The history of Virginia, from its first settlement to the present day

THE

HISTORY OF VIRGINIA,

FROM

ITS FIRST SETTLEMENT

THE PRESENT DAY.

BY JOH.V BURK.

VOLUME III.

PETERSBURG, VIRGINIA,

PRINTED B Y DICKSOJY & PESCUD,

AND TOR SALE AT THE BOOK-STORES OF SOMERVELL & CONRAD, PE-
TERSBURG... JOHN CONRAD, tf CO. PHILADELPHIA ...MICHAEL &*
JOHN CONRAD, t? CO. BALTIMORE. ...RAPINE, CONRAD, ^
CO. WASHINGTON CITY... .AND BONSALL, CON-
RAD, & CO. NORFOLK.

1805.

> r *.\

CHAPTER I.

Impressions excited amongst the first colonists by.

the appearance of the Bay ofChesaf>eake—J)y the
dress, color and arms oj the natives — by the pe-
culiarity of the climate. Reflections on the vari-
ation of the climates of America. How ac-
counted for. Almost unvaried sameness of the
various nations of American Indians in shape,
figure and color — almost infinite variety in their
language. Indians have a common original —
Mr. Jeffersorfs hypothesis why it should not be
admitted. Cases apparently in support of Ray-
nafrs and Buff on* s opinion of Indian incapacity —
Why inconclusive. A thorough enquiry into the
Indian character^ language and descent highly
important. Character of Indians better known
than when Robertson vurole. Robertson's analy-
sis of Indian character and manners examined.
The bodily structure and external appearance of
the Indian. — His beardless countenance* Their
insensibility to the charms of beauty, and the
power of love. Their limited capacity. The
same vices had been objected to the Spartans. —
Extraordinary similarity in the Indian and
Spartan customs and manners. A brief review
of their common usages. Their profound respect
and deference Jor the persons and opinions of the,
old men. Their stoical indifference— ^their appa-
rent extinction of natural affection in the passion
oj patriotism — their contempt oj death> an&lieir

_ in supporting torture — their- tacitur*

:. _•' : -: ' : . . gtf vV •reserve and deliberation — The character
of their eloquence and private conversation. —
Their treatment of their children. — Their mili-
tary habits — Both prefer stratagem to force —
Their mode of forming and preserving friendship.
— With both war is a season of rest nnd plea-
sure — Their contempt of cowardice >, and their pe-
nalties against it — their equality— Their disin-
terestedness—7 heir refusal to portion the'w
daughters — Their respect for the laws and an-
cient manners — Their custom of destroying their
deformed children. The general portrait will
serve for the Virginia Indian. This enquiry
drawn from authentic sources. Plan of In-
dian civilization adopted by United States, Its
success. Complexion o/ Virginia Indian. The
powers and, qualities of his mind — his arithme-
tic— Few abstract ideas — JVhy ? Their admi-
rable address in managing treaties— Their elo-
quence— Their little knowledge of the useful arts.
No written laws. Their absolute freedom. —
Their appearance when preparing for battle. —
Their war songs — Their punishments — Their
mode of distinguishing the year—By months
— by seasons — by hours. --Their notions of re-
ligion.— The great spirit or master breath. —
Their idea of a future state. T/ieir festivals.
Their domestic relations. Their notions of mar-
riage. — Influence of the women. Order and de-
portment of an Indian assembly. Who were the
ancestors of this people — Various opinions on this
faad.

HISTORY.

VIRGINIA presented to the first settlers an CHAP.
appearance calculated to impress them with feel- *•
ings of grandeur and sublimity. Immense ib- impres-
rests, which appeared to have continued undis- sions excit-
turbed from the creation : The silence, which ed among
reigned through those regions, and which is in- |"'5t settlers
terrupted only by the rustling of the leaves, by p^nofof
the e;k or butfaloe ; or the waving of the branches u)e Chesa-
by the wind ; unless when the death like stillness peake.
is broken by the soul chilling tones of the war
whoop and the harsh discords of the war song;
the cautious and silent step of the Indian moving
like a ghost present ideas of sublime and solitary
grandeur.

No traces of cultivation appeared : The glebe
had never been turned up. The earth in its se-
parate strata remained as it had been assorted ac-
cording to its specific gravities from the begin-
ning of the world.

THE Bay of Chesapeake was particularly cal-
culated to keep alive those impressions. Forests
as far as the eye could see, covered the face of
the country and descended to the very edge of the
water. Several great rivers, whose distance from
their sources was manifested by the depth and
breadth of their channels, discharged their vast
tributes into it in their sight ; while tribes of In-
dians made signs to thefn from the shore or sailed
round them in canoes,

6 HISTORY OF

CHAP. THE dress, arms* and complexion of the native;
became new sources of wonder. Their skin wa:
of a copper colour, and the character of thei

Bythe dress face fierce and barbarous: But their Ions

color and . , , . . , . . . . .. , .*•

arms of the black hair and the admirable proportion or thei:

natives. bodies were proofs of a radical difference betweei
them and the inhabitants of Africa. They ap
peared to be a new species equally removed fron
the men of Europe, Asia and Africa.

THE climates too as well as the complexioi

JJy the pc- were different from those of countries lying in pa

culiarity of rallel latitudes. The air was much colder than ii

climate, the ancient continent. This remark will apply t<

every part of the new world, f Heat alone is in

sufficient to determine the distance of any placi

in America from the equator although it is a to

lerably safe and correct measure of latitude ii

the other quarters of the globe. The elevation

Reflections humidity and extent of the American continents

suggested the vast extent of the ocean, which washes it;

e *ari" coasts ; the great height of its mountains and the

inateTn0 " direction of its predominant winds, must be tak^r

America, into calculation. There are doubtless other cir

cumstances : But those, which have been enu-

* A cloak of buffaloe or beaver skin, bound with a lea
them girdle, and stockings made of roe buck skins, was
the whole of their dress before their intercourse with us;
what they have addtd since gives great offence to their ok
men, who are ever lamenting the degtneracy of their man-
ners. J<ayr>al's History of America, fiage— .

t The author of Recherches Philosophicjues sur les Ame-
i icy ins supposes the difference in heat to be equal to 12 de-
grees, and that a place 30 degrees from the equator in the
old con mem is as warm as one distant only 18 from it in
the new. Dr Mitchell after observations carried on during
30 years, contends that the difference is equal to 14 or 15
degrees of latitude. Rob. Am* J\otc 37.

VIRGINIA.

tnerated have a manifest and decided influ-
ence.

So many circumstances, which do not exist Hovv a<>
elsewhere combine with htat in forming the cli- counted for.
mates of this region that the old standard must be
laid aside or corrected. The near approach of
America to the pole; its immense extent; the
superior height of its mountains covered with
everlasting snow ; its vast lakes and rivers ; its
'almost continued forest ; but above all the north
ivest wind, which blowing from the north pole and
passing over a hard frozen and elevated ground
from which no caloric can escape to warm it, de-
scends with all its rigour and severity on the re-
gions of North America. These circumstances
produce the striking difference between the cli-
mates of the old and new world.

THE same observations will apply to South
America. There the east wind cooled in its pas-
sage across the Atlantic and passing to the west
over immense swamps and forests which ex-
clude the heat and often the light of the sun, mi-
tigates the burning rigour of the torrid zone.*

* This coldness of the climate which is felt all over
North America appears to proceed principally and chiefly
from the three following causes, besides ethers that con-
spire with tl.em, particularly the nature of the soil.

I. America extends further north than any other part of
the world and by that means is so much colder. Europe
is surrounded by the warmer ocean which is always open,
Asia by an icy sea (the Mare Glaciale) and America by a
frozen continent which occasions the diversity of the climate
in these three continents

II. That continent which is thus extensive in the northern
parts, is one entire group of high mountains covered with
snow or rather with ice throughout the whole year. These
mountains rise in the most northern parts of the continent
that have been discovered in Baffin's Bay and spread all

; HISTORY OF

CHAP. OUR surprize at this variance between the cli~
mates of the old and new world will be lessened,
when it is known by actual observation and ex-
periment that the climate of V irginia has percep-

over it to New England. Hence the coast of Labrador is
the highest in the world and can be discerned at the dis-
tance ot forty leagues ; and in the western parts discovered
by the Russians they tell us '* the country had terrible
high mountains covered with snow in the month of July."
This was in latitude 58 degrees, and the country southward
to that 40 degrees, is by the Spaniards called Sierras Neve-
dos, Snowy Mountain ; so a ridge of mountains rise at Cape
Tourmente by Quebec and running four or five hundred
leagues^ forming the greatest ridge of mountains in the uni-
verse which spread over all the northern parts of the conti-
nent. These are what we call the Northern Snowy Moun-
tains.

III. All the countries that lie within the verge of these
mountains or north of New England are continually involved
in frosts, snows or thick fogs, and the colds that are felt in
the south proceed from these frozen regions in the north by
violent north west winds. These are the peculiar winds of that
country and blow with a violence which no wind exceeds. It
appears from many observations that they blow quite across
the Atlantic ocean to Europe. The great lakes of Canada,
\vhich are inland seas extending north west for twelve or
thirteen hundred miles, gives force and direction to these
winds which blow from the frozen regions, and bring the cli-
mate of Hudson's Bay to the most southern parts of the
continent when they blow for any considerable time.

Many Imagine that these colds proceed from the snow
lying in the woods, but that is the effect not the cause
of the cold. They who attribute this to the woods do
not distinguish between wet and cold, or the damps of
wood-land frosts, which are very different things. These
colds are so far from proceeding from the woods that one
half of that continent which is the coldest and from which
they proceed, has not a wood in it, and is so barren that it
does not bare a tree or a bush. It is from this want of woods
in the. northern parts and the lakes that these furious winds
proceed which are very much abated by the woods. In the
woods these cold winds may be endured, but in the open
fitld they are insufferable either to man or beast, and that

VIRGINIA: t>

tibly changed within the last thirty years. The CHAP. *
winters are neither so lorg and severe as for-
merly, and there is a proportional abatement in
the heat.

THE causes of this change are obvious. The
earth formerly covered with forest and choaked
with leaves, weeds and underwood, is now turned
up with the plough, and its chilled surface warm-
ed by the beams of the sun. Channels are now
in all directions cut through the forests, which
afford a pa-sage and circulation to the stagnant
air* There is moreover a vast increase in popu-
lation. It is difficult indeed to explain by those
causes the decrease of heat. I orests absorb the
rays of the sun and intercept their progress to the

even in our southern colonies. Hence, if all the woods in
that continent were cleared, Canada and Novr* Scoti* would
be as inhabitable as Hudson's Bay, our northern colonies as
cold as Canada, and our adjacent southern colonies in the
situation of the northern. Let us not deceive ourselves there-
fore with the vain hopes of mending nature and abating the
rigour of those inhospitable climes ; that is not to be done but
by cutting off twenty degrees of that continent in the north
and leveling the innumerable snowy mountains.

No part of the world can be compared to this in point of
climate but the eastern parts of Asia, which are almost con-
tiguous to America in the north, and are exposed to this
cold wind from the continent. Hence it appears from
comparing many observations in both, that our colonies en-
joy the same climate with East Tartary, China, Corea and
Japan, the products of which are so rich and valuable. Here
then we might have many of the most valuable commo-
dities for the colonies, and as they are so entirely different
from any thing which Britain produces, they might forever
keep the colonies from inte .-tiering with the mother country,
and preserve a lasting connection and correspondence be-
tween them. Most of the staple commodities of America
come from the east, as sugar, rice, cotton, coffte, imligoj
Sec. W ynne's British Americc^

B

10 HISTORY OF

CHAP, earth : But at the same time it is suggested that
.__ it must have impeded the progress of the cooling
winds and the free circulation of air, which have
since received freedom and activity. It is not
inconsistent too with the laws of our atmosphere
to suppose that the heat is qualified by new cur-
rents of air and partial changes in their direction
generated by itself.*

THIS curious change in the climate of Vir-
gina naturally suggests a question of some in-
They will terest — What would be the probable effects of a
extend still general cultivation of the several regions of the
fuither earth on the climates of those places ? Would the
westward. prOgress of cultivation, which shall every where be
equal, abate the rigour of a torrid zone or the in-
tense severity of polar ice ? Would it increase or
diminish the advantages of temperate climates ?f
THE various nations, which by the first set-

* The eastern and south eastern breezes come on gene-
rally in the afternoon. They have advanced into the country
very sensibly within the memory of people LOW living.
They formeriy did not penetrate above Williamsbnrg. They
are now frequent at Richmond and every now and then reach
the mountains. They deposit most of their moisture before
they get that far, as the land become more cleared it is pro*
bab'e they will extend farther westward.

t By the following extract it appears that a revolution of
this kind was not unknown among the ancients. « Natural-
ists affirm, says the ingenious author of Anacharsis, speak-
ing of Larissa, that since a passage has been formed to let
oft' the stagnant waters, which covered the environs of this
town in many places, the air is become more pure and cold-
er. They allege two reasons in support of this opinion ;
olive trees were formerly very nuroerons and flourishing in
this district ; at present they are unable to endure the seve-
rity of the winters : The vines too are often frozen, which
in former times was never known to happen.

rol<2.ji. 284— 5.

VIRGINIA.

tiers were found dispersed over the American

continent, in the unvaried sameness of their ap- _

pearance and manners, and the almost infinite The same-
variety in their languages, present an interesting ness of
subject of speculation to the philosopher : But American

inquiry is embarrassed in the outset by a con- ,n iani|J!

,. rp,, , , * | j . . dress,shapc

tradiction so extraordinary. I he old world is in ancj com.

vain resorted to for the solution of this phcenome- piexion.
non. Although divided often by seas and almost
inaccessible mountains, and still farther re-
moved from each other by the restraints of poli-
cy; their several languages discover numerous
and striking affinities. But the Indians of North
America, living in the neighbourhood of ench
other ; divided by no seas : although often at
peace and alliance, and not unfrequcntly meeting
during their hunting, have almost as many lan-
guages as there are tribes ; and the affinities be-
tween their languages are neither striking nor nu-
merous.

THE formation of language is a process which The'almosi
requires time and labour. Man arbitrarily gives infinite va-
names to the external objects which meet his "ety °f
senses : But there is yet (although not always no- g^Lf"
ticed by him) a connection between the names
he assigns them and the most obvious properties
of the objects ; and this is more frequently the
case with savages, who, overlooking nice and
fanciful refinements, attend only to what is clear
and expressive. Is it then credible that the In-
dians once possessing a common language, af-
ter branching out and dividing themselves into
colonies for the greater convenience of hunting
and fishing, should deliberately abandon their
mother tongue, and each tribe or confederacy-
frame for itself a new language ; and this too
when the manners and customs of their fathers
in other respects were religiously observed, and

12 HISTORY OF

CHAP, the sensible objects to which new names were
*• given remained the same. Yet the Americans,
Indians spite of this contradiction, had certainly a corn-
have a com- mon original. Their nations are too numerous,
xnon ongU ancj thejf manners laws, customs and appearance
too uniform to admit a different conclusion.

Mr, JEFFERSON reckons up no less than forty
nations, which at the first settlement of this state
inhabited the country from the sea coast to the
mountains; and from the Potomac to the most
southern waters oi James river. But what are
thtse to the innumerable swarms scattered over
this continent, or even that inconsiderable por-
tion of it uhich constitutes the Ameiican confe-
deiacy. These are all alike distinguished by their
straight black hair ; the ir erect and we 11 formed
stature ; their grave and taciturn deportment;
their war whoop, war dances and war feasts ; their
songs when preparing for battle : By their skill
and indefatigable patience in tracing and sur-
prizing an enemy ; by the use of the tomahawk,
and their custom of scalping the dead and wound-
ed : But above all, by their incredible fortitude
under torture. These are prools too decisive of
a common original to admit a doubt on this head,
and against them, the varieties of language are
but dust in the balance.

WHENCE then can have arisen this variety of
language ? Is it the work of time ? On such a
supposition, reasoning from circumstances in
Europe, which attach more forcibly from the na-
ture of thtir lives to the Americans, their anti-
quity rises higher than even the Chinese sera of
creation ; and America is the cradle of tiie hu-
man race.

Mr. Jeffer- THIS opinion Mr. Jefferson appears not un-
" willinS to adul)t: 5 but respected as must be the
authority of a man who has bestowed so much

VIRGINIA: 13

aftenfion on this subject, and who has contrived CHAP.
t( il imine every subject of which he treats with
the mild radiance of a rational philosophy, this
opinion will scarcely keep its ground against the
numerous and forcible objections to which it is
exposed ; and he will doubtless feel less relucr
tance in seeing it refuted, when he reflects how
powerfully such a conclusion would go in sup-
port of the charges of Kaynal, Robertson and
BufFon of an original def ct in the moral and phy-
sical faculties of the Indian.

INNUMERABLE tribes, enjoying a luxuriant
soil, and distributed through a great variety of Why it
climate, preserving their barbarism from the be- should not
ginning of the world ; treading on mines of gold be adnut-
and iron, without having made a single improve- te "
ment in the useful or mechanic arts, would but
too fatally countenance such an imputation The
native American would be the most degraded
animal of the human race ; and his conquerors
would have but too much reason to lear for their
children and posterity.

THE naturahst who shall attempt to account
for the moral phoenomena which every where pre-
sent themselves in this region, by analogies
drawn from civilization, must infallibly be disap-
pointed. We must not argue from cities to the
wilderness; from the philosopher instructed in
the knowledge of ages, to the savage, \vhose ex-
perience is bounded by the forest in which he is
impiisoned. Arts and civilization are the off-
spring of hard necessity ; of a confined ternton ;
ot hunger and ot thirst. They are nursed and
brought to maturity by luxury and wealth. It the
earth spontaneously and regularly produced every
thing wanting and desirable to m n, hecloujtiess
ivould not permit his animal enjoyments tube
interrupted by labour. What then were the in-

14 HISTORY OF

CHAP, ducements to labour in the American, for whom
. the earth spontaneously and liberally yielded her
productions. Nature made him free and equal
with his fellow : His rude weapons gave him so-
vereignty in the forest: rte felt none of the tor-
merits arising from artificial refinements: His
passions were the impulses of nature, and were
gratified almost as soon as they arose.

THIS was certainly the life of the first inha-
bitants of the earth ; and it is nearly the life of
several Arab and Tartar tribes to this day. riow-
ever the opinon may shock, it is the natural state
of man ; and there is reason to believe, that to
the end of the world it had continued to be the
life of the American, unless as in the case of the
Mexicans, cunning assisted by superstition
should cajole him into government ; or their po-
pulation should be so enormous as to stimulate
their latent energies through apprehensions of
want. It is not then because the American is de-
ficient in sagacity that he has remained so long in
ignorance. He wanted only a motive and occa-
sion sufficiently powerful to call him into action.
IT is but equal justice to acknowledge at the
Cases ap- same time, that as far as experience reaches, the
parently in facts appear at first view to favour the French
4 support of philosophers with respect to the Indians at least.
onncKan°n Notwithstanding an intercourse of two centuries
incapacity, with the whites, they still preserve their original
rudenes and barbarism, thus appearing as it were
to defy the effects of time and the contagious in-
fluence of example.

FROM a number of instances which may be
cited, the following are selected, because one of
them passed under the immediate observation of
the American people, and the other is authenti-
cated by the testimony of a respectable historian,
who was himself an eye witness of the fact he re-

VIRGINIA. IS

latcs. He prefaced it moreover, by observations CHAP.
which shew that it was neither singular nor un- ' ...„
common.

AT the close of the revolutionary war, the
marquis La Fayette took with him to France the
infant son of Corn Planter, a chief of one of the
members of that confederacy known by the name
of the Six Nations ; principally with a view, it
is imagine d, to ascertain the capacity of this race
for moral improvement.

THE young Corn Planter was instructed by
the best masters, and as he advanced in years
lived in what is called the best company at Paris.
Having attained the age of manhood, he returned
to Arm nca with a beautiful woman he had mar-
ried. His dress on the morning of his arrival be-
spoke the gay and thoughtless Frenchman : On
the evening of the same day his powder and silk
stockings vanished, and he was found with some
Indians, who were then on a visit to the govern-
ment, brurall}' drunk and wrapped in his blanket.

dE had indeed contracted some habits in Eu-
rope, which he found it not so easy to relinquish
as his dress. His wife as they travelled onwards
towards his tribe, was cruelly abused and desert-
ed by him. In this situation she was found by
Aaron Burr, on his way from Canada to New
York, almost naked and depending for her sub-
sistence on berries and wild fruits. " Nor can
we say," says Mr. Charlevoix,* " that this is
owing to their not being acquainted with our
modes of life. Many Frenchmen have tried their
way of life, and were so pleased with it, that se-
veral of them, though they could have lived very
comfortably in the colonies, could never be pre-

16 HISTORY OF

CHAP, vailed on to return to it. On the contrary, there

. never was so much as a single Indian that could

be brought to relish our way of living. Children,
have been taken and have been brought up with
a great deal of care. Nothing had been omitted
to hinder them from having any knowledge of
their parents : Yet the moment they have found
themselves at liberty they have torn their clothes
to pieces, and gone across the woods in quest of
their countrymen. An iroquois was even a lieu-
tenant in our army ; } et he returned to his own
nation, carrying with him only our vices without
correcting any of those which he brought along
with him."*

BUT there is no need to look beyond the state
of Virginia for testimony. Governor Spotswoodf

* We have never been able to reconcile any of them to
the indulgences oi' our way of life; whereas we have seen,
some Europeans forego all the conveniences of civil life, go
into the forests, and take up the bow and the club of the sa-
vage. An innate spirit of benevolence, however, some-
times brings them back to us.

Raynal's History of America.

t And here I must lament the bad success Mr. Boyle's
charity has hitherto had, towards convicting any of these
poor heathens to Christianity. Many children of our neigh-
bouring Indians have been brought up in the college of Wil-
liam and Mary. They have been taught to read and write,
and been carefully instructed in the principles of the Chris-
tian religion, till they came to the age of manhood. Yet,
after they returned home, instead of civilizing? and convert-
ing the rest, they have immediately relapsed into barbarism
and infidelity themselves. And some of them too have made
the worst use of the knowledge they acquired among the
English, by e.nployiiig it against their benefactorss; be-
sides, us they uniiappily forget all the good they learn, and
remember the ill, ihey are apt to be more vicious and dis-
orderly tiian ttie rest of their countrymen. I ought not to
quit this subject wi hout doing justice to the great prudence
of col. byotswood in this affair. That gentLman was licut.

VIRGINIA. 17

kept in pay teachers among some of the Virginia
tribes, and had several children belonging to the
sachems as hostages, who were carefully instruct-
ed in civilization and humanity. In addition to

governor of Virginia when Carolina was engaged in a
bloody war with the Indians At that crhical time it was
thought expedient to keep a watchful eye upon our tributary
savages, who, we knew, had nothing to keep them to their
duty but their fears.

Then it was that he demanded of each nation a compe-
tent number of their great men's children to be sent to the
college, where they served as so many hostages for the
good behaviour ol the rest, and at the same time were
themselves principled in the Christian religion. He also
placed a schoolmaster among the Sapponi Indians at the
salary of fifty pounds per annum, to instruct their children.
The person that undertook that charitable work was Mr.
Charles (jiiffin, a man of good family, who by the inno-
cence ot his life and sweetness of his temper, was perfectly
well qualified for that undertaking. Besides, he had so
much the secret of mixing pleasure with instruction, that
he did not have a scholar but loved him affectionately. Such
taltn.s must needs have been blessed with proportional suc-
cess, had he not been unluckily re moved to the college, by
•which he left the good he had bt gun unfinished.

In short, all the pains he had taken among the Indians,
had no other effect than to make them something cleanlier
than the oiher Indians.

I am scrry I cannot yive a better account of the state of
the poor Indians with regard to Christianity, although a
great deal of pains has been taken and still continues to be
taken with them. For my part, I must be of opinion, as I
hinted before, that there is but one way of converting these
poor infidels and reclaiming them fmm bai buri y, and that is,
charitably to intermarry with them according to the modem
policy of the most Christian king of Canada and Louisiana.
Had the English done this at the first settlement of the co-
lony, the infidelity of the Indians had been worn out at this
day, with their dark complexions, and the country swarmed
with people more than it does with insects.

It was certainly an unreasonable nicety that prevented
their entering into so good natured an alliance. All na-

c

18

HISTORY OF

CHAP, this a donation was given by Mr. Boyle of En-
*• gland for the instruction of the Indians and their
"" conversion to Christianity.* Yet not in a single
instance were these efforts successful.

THE$E must certainly be allowed to be fair ex-
periments ; but a thousand such facts should not
Why in- be permitted to outweigh principles which we find
conclusive, every where uniform in nature. To suppose the
Indian incapable, by reason of his faculties, of
improvement, must presuppose some radical de-
fect in his organization, which would class him in
another species. But perhaps by attentively ex-
amining the cases above cited, the solution of
A thorough this probiem win llot be found so difficult. This
IteTidiTn0 examination \\ill necessarily embrace every thing
character, relating to the laws, customs and manners of
language this people, a subject than which none can be
and descent niore curious and interesting.

WHAT a field is here presented to the philo-
sopher, if instead of bewildering himself in unna-
tural speculations concerning the growth and

tions of men have the same dignity, and we all know that
very bright talents may be lodged under very dark skins.

The principle difference between one people and another,
proceeds only from the d ff rent opportunities of improve-
ment. The Indians by no means want understanding, and
are in their figure tail and wtll proportioned; even their
copper coloured complexions would admit of blanching, if
not at the first, at the furthest, in the second generation.

1 may safely venture to say the Indian women were alto-
gether as honest wives for the first planters as the damsels
they purchased from aboard the ships.

It is strange, therefore, that any good Christian should
have refused a wholesome straight bed fellow, when he might
have had so fair a portion with her, as the merit of saving
her soul. Col. Win. Byrd'a Journal^ MS. jicncs me.

* This was called the professorship of Brafferton, from
an estate of that name in England, purchased with the do-
nation.

VIRGINIA. 1

origin of society, drawn from times and manners CHAP,
which will not countenance his analogy, he as- ry
cends to the cradle of man. The man of the old
world is a coin with the date and impression worn
out by time and use: The North American is
fresh from the mint, or if it be thought a better
comparison, he is a coin which has been locked
up from circulation, the impression on which is
deep and legible.

A CORRECT knowledge of this people would
thro^v light on the history of man. An accurate
investigation of this continent would advance the
boundaries of human knowledge. This is the do-
main of nature : Here she sports wild amid her
innumerable productions. Avarice had not em-
bo welled her in quest of gold ; the axe hath not
denied her forests : Kings have not ravaged her
surface. She is as she came from the hands of
the creator, majestic and lovely.

ALL the writers who have treated of the new
"world, have specially considered this subject ;
and although it may appear strange that in an in-
quiry so plain and accessible to fair examination,
any variance should exist : No two of them agree
in the greater number of particulars ; and not one
has given a correct and natural picture of the
American Indian.

IT may appear arrogance to pronounce sen-
tence thus boldly on the resptctable historians
of the new world ; more especially, as the cen-
sure seems to imply a greater correctness or can-
dor in myself. Such idle vanity will not be im-
puted to me; I lay claim only to equal imparti-
ality and industry with my predecessors. The
opportunities of acquiring information on this
head may have been more favourable to me. The
character of this people is better understood since
they have enjoyed an uninterrupted and friendly

?0

HISTORY OF

CHAP.
I.

Character
of Indian
better
known than
when Dr.
Robertson
wrote.

Dr. Robert
son's anuly
sis of Indi-
an charac-
ter and
rnaners ex
amincd.

intercourse with the United States. Their chiefs ^
led by curiosity or business frequently visit our
cities, and many of our citizens have travelled
and lived amongst them.

IT has become of late the policy of our go-
vernment to keep agents in their country, and
some of the citizens employed in this service,
with a zeal and prudence highly deserving praise,
have laboured to acquire a correct knowledge ot
their character and langu ige. Without this in-
formation indeed they had found it impossible to
gain or preserve that ascendance in their national
councils, which enables them to allay the fierce
spirits of this people. That reserve which is
thought peculiar to the American Indian is every
day slowly giving place to the social feelings, to
which this intercourse has given birth ; and sub-
jects concerning which superstition or custom
had formerly sealed their lips, are now discussed
without scruple or apprehc nsion. The advantages
arising from this state ot things, I owe to time ;
it would be absurd for chance or fortune to lay
claim to the re wards of merit.

To follow the several writers who have handled
. this subject, would be at once uninteresting and
• impracticable. Mr. Robertson, in his valuable
work, the history of America, has given a ra-
pid but at the same time perspicuous analysis of
. the arguments of his predecessors. His inquiry
certainly contains much ingenious deduction,
with considerable learning and research ; and I
profess myself indebted to him for the knowledge
of several interesting particulars, which derive
new force from his manner of relating them. But
he has been compelled to take most of his in-
formation on trust, and he rests with too much
confidence on the imposing authority of Raynal
and Buffon, and the suspicious testimony of the

VIRGINIA: 2

Spanish writers. The former gentlemen, to whom CFT \P.
literature is indebted for so many noble senti- *'
ments ; for so much profound and elegant infoi ma-
tion, framed a theory concerning the moral and phy-
sical powers of the Indian, and afterwards went in
quest of facts to support it. With every disposi-
tion to arrive at the truth, they were contiually
led astray by their desire to maintain their hypo-
thesis. The diviner is insensibly interested in the
fulfilment of his prediction, tor the rest, Mr. Ro-
bertson is almost wholly dependent on the Spanish
historians, and these almost with the exception of
the intelligent Ulloa and the virtuous and intre-
pid Le Casa, are incompetent by reason of their
prejudices to examine the merits of the question.
The scope of their inquiry is in general too nar-
row to allow a correct and general decision : they
are either the apologists of Spanish cruelties, or
they drew their portraits from a people pining in
bondage, and whose energies were broken by
despair. It will not be thought surprising that
Dr. Robertson was compelled to sanction an hy-
pothesis supported by the weight of such power-
ful authority.

IT seems not improper to premise in this place,
that all objections which attach equally to every
people in the savage state as well as to the Indian,
are totally inadmissible. They stt out to prove
a peculiar debility in the physical structure and
in the moral faculties of the Indian, and evidence
.only of this peculiarity can be properly received.

THE first subject of iVtr. Robertsons inquiry, is
the bodily structure and external appearance of Bodily
the Indian ; " they were not only averse to la-
bour," says he, " but incapable of it; and when
roused by force from their native indolence and
compelled to work, they sunk under tasks which Indian,
the people of the other continent could have per-

22 HISTORY OF

CHAP, formed with ease." Here he manifestly alludes

•___ *• to the indolent natives of Cuba and Hispaniola,

" and the Peruvians, who, before the arrival of the

Spaniards, were unacquainted with every species

of labour, and who by the Hepartmientos divided

amongst brutal task masters, died by thousands

of broken hearts.

THE admirable symmetry of the Indian form is
primaface evidence of an organization without de-
fect ; and the inability to endure fatigue, if i= exist
any where to the extent alluded to, is only to be
ascribed to an habitual and enervating in Jol nee :
Indeed, Mr. Robertson concedes this point where
he says, " whenever the Americans have been
gradually accustomed to hard labour, their con-
stitutions become robust, and they have been
found capable of performing such tasks as seem-
ed not only to exceed the powers of such a frame
as has been deemed peculiar to their country, but
to equal any effort of the nations of Africa or
Europe."

" THE beardless countenance and smooth skin
His beard- of the American," continues Mr. Robertson,
ksscounte- " seem to indicate a defect of vigour occasioned
.nance. j^y some vice m his frame." Whether beard
is essential to manhood, is, I suspect, mere
matter of conjecture, and until this fact shall be
placed beyond doubts by experiment, it is con-
ceived unnecessary to argue this charge. Fortu-
nately it has an easier refutation ; the fact is not
so ; u at the age of puberty the crinose efflores-
cence which is deemed essential to manhood dis-
covers itself on the body of the Indian as well as
other men :* But with them it is disgraceful to
be hairy on the body ; they say it likens them to

* Carver.

VIRGINIA. 23

hogs : They therefore pluck the hair as fast as it CHAP,
appears. But the traders, who marry their wo- "
men, and prevail on them to discontinue this .
practice, say that nature is the same with them
as with the whites.* " They pull their beards
up," says Mr. Beverley, ;' by the roots with
muscle shells, and both men and women do the
same by the other parts of their body for cleanli-
ness sake."

THE substance of Mr. Jefferson's information
is attested b\ Charlevoix and several other wri-
ters. As the fact was considered on all sides in-
teresting, I have been at some pains of ascertain-
ing how it stands without regard to those antipa-
thies and partialities, which prevent a fair decision.
The result of my observations, derived from ci-
tizeiis who have lived among the Indians, and from
several other sources equally respectable, esta-
blish beyond ail question the fact in favour of this
opinion.

THE smallnessof their appetite and their insen- Their in-
sibilityf to the charms of beauty are next urged sensibility
in proof of some feebleness in the framef of the ^r^s Of
American Indian : But those points are likewise

* Notes on Virginia, p. 140.

t Canada, therefore, is not a desert from natural defects,-
but the track of life which its inhabitants pursue. Though
they are as fit for procreation as cur northern people, all
their strength is -mployed for their own preservation. Hun-
ger does not allow them to attend to the softer passions. If
the people of the south sacrifice every thing to this desire,
it is because the first is easily satisfied. In a country where
nature is very prolific, and man consumes but little, the
overplus of his strength is turned wholly to population,,
which is likewise assisted by the warmth of the climate.
Raynafs History cf America* page 27.

,j fide Rob. Am* vol. 1, /;. $$ ond 96L

24 HISTORY OF

CHAP. gVen up by Mr. Robertson after a shew of re-
. sjstance. Their ignorance of abstract ideas; their

b<ri>in> and limited acquaintance with the arts ; their indo-
the lower lence and aversion to labour, are peculiarities
of love* growing rather out of their moral condition than
their physical structure. It is also objected to
the Indian, that he is a cold and tyrannical hus-
band, an unnatural son, a father without sensibi-
lity or affection; that he is selfish, treacherous
and cowardly. I cannot omit introducing the
compendious answer of Mr. Jefferson to these
unnatural speculations.

4v MON s. BUFFO N has indeed given an affecting
picture of human nature in his description of the
man of America. But sure 1 am there never was
a picture more unlike the original. He grants
indeed that his stature is the same as that of the
man of Europe. He might have admitted that
the Jroquois were larger, and the Lenopi or De-
lawart- s taller than the people of Europe gene-
rally are. But he says their organs of generation
are smaller and weaker than those of the Europe-
ans. Is this a fact ? 1 believe not, at least it is
an observation I never heard of before. They
have no beard. Had he known the pains and
trouble it cost the men to pluck out by the roots
the hair that grows on their faces, he would have
seen that nature had not been deficient in that re-
spect. Every nation has its customs. 1 have
seen an Indian beau with a looking glass in his
hand, examining his face for hours together, and
plucking out by the roots every hair he could dis-
cover with a kind of tweezers made of a peice of
fine brass wire that had been twisted round a
stick, and which he used with great dexterity.
They have no aidour for their females. It is true
they do not indulge those excesses nor discover
that fondness which is customary in Europe; but

VIRGINIA. 25

this is not owing to a defect in nature but in man- CHAP,
rers. Their soul is wholly bent upon war; this
is what procures them glory among the men and
makes them the admiration of the women. To
this they are educated from their earliest youth.
\Yhen they pursue the game with ardour; when
the} bear the fatigues of the chase ; when they
sustain and suffer patiently hunger and cold, it is
not so much for the sake of the game they pur-
sue, as to convince their parents and the council
of the nation that they are fit to be enrolled in the
number of warriors. The songs of the women ;
the dance of the warriors ; the sage council of
the chiefs ; the tales of the old ; the triumphal
entry of the warriors returning with success
from battle, and the respect paid to those who
distinguish themselves in war and in subduing
their enemies ; in short, every thing they see or
hear tends to inspire them with an ardent desire
for military fame. If a young man were to dis-
cover a fondness for women before he' had been
to war, he would become the contempt of the
men and the scorn and rebuke of the women;
or were he to indulge himself with a captive taken
in war, and much more were he to offer violence
in order to gratify his lust, he would incur inde-
lible disgrace. The seeming frigidity of the men,
therefore, is the effect of manners and not of na-
ture. Besides, a celebrated warrior is oftener
courted by the females, so that he has no occasion
to court, and this is a point of honour which the
men aim at. Instances similar to that of Ruth
and Boaz* are not uncommon among them. For

* When Boaz had eaten and drank, and his heart was
merry, he went to lie down at the heap of corn, and Ruth
came softly and uncovered his feet and laid her down.

D Ruth, 3. 7.

26 HISTORY OF

though the wometi are modest and diffident, and
so bashful that they can seldom lift up their eyes
and scarce ever look a man full in the face, yet
being brought up in great subjection, custom and
manners reconcile them to a mode of acting,
which judged of by Europeans, would be deem-
ed inconsistent with the rules of female decorum
and propriety. I once saw a young widow whose
husband had died about eight days before, hast-
ing to finish her grief, and who by tearing her
hair, beating her breast and drinking spirits, made
the tears flow in greatest abundance, in order
that she might grieve much in a short space of
time, and be married that evening to another
warrior. The manner in which this was viewed by
the men and women of the tribe who stood round
silent and solemn spectators of the scene, and the
indifference with which they answered my ques-
tions respecting it, convinced me that it was no
unusual custom. I have known men advanced
in years, whose wives were old and past child
bearing, take young wives and get children,
though the practice of polygamy is not common*
Does this savour of frigidity or want of ardour
for the female ? Neither do they seem to be defi-
cient in natural affection. 1 have seen both fa-
thers and mothers in the deepest affliction when
their children have been dangerously ill, though
I believe the affection is stronger in the descend-
ing than the ascending scale, and though custom
forbids a father to grieve immoderately for a son
slain in battle. That they are 'timorous and cow-
ardly,' is a character with which there is little
reason to charge them, when we recollect the

manner in which the Iroquois met Mons. ,

who marched into their country, in which the
old men who scorned to fly or survive the capture
of their town, braved death like the old Romans

VIRGINIA; 2

in the time of the Gauls, and in which they soon CHAP,
after revenged themselves by the sacking and
burning of Montreal.

" BUT above all the unshaken fortitude with
which they bear the most excruciating tortures
and death when taken prisoners, ought to ex-
empt them from that character : Much less are
they to be charactized as a people of no vivacity,
and excited to war or motion only by the call of
hunger and thirst. Their dances, in which they
so much delight, and which to an European
would be the severest exercise, fully contradict
this, not to mention the long marches and the
toils they cheerfully and voluntarily undergo in
their military expeditions. It is true that when
at home they do not employ themselves in labour
or the culture of the soil, but this again is the
effect of custom and manners which has assigned
that TO the province of the women. Rut it is said
they are averse to society and a social life.. Can any
thing be more inapplicable than this to a people
who always live in towns or clans ? or can they
be said to have no republic, who conduct ail their
affairs in national council ;, who pride themselves
on their national character ^ who consider an in*
suit or injury done to one individual by a stran-
ger as done to the whole, and resent it accord-
ingly ? In short, this picture is not applicable to
any nation of Indians I have ever known or heard
of in North America. The Indian of North
America being more within our reach, I can
speak of them some what from my own know^
ledge, but more from the information of others
better acquainted with him, and on whose truth
and judgment I can rely. From these sources I
am able to say, in contradiction to the represent-
ation, that he'is neither more defective in ardour,
or more impotent with his female than the white

28 HISTORY OF

reduced to the same diet and exercise. That he
is brave when an enter prize depends on bravery ; v
education with him making the point of honour
consist in the destruction of his enemy by stra-
tagem and the preservation of his own person
free from injury ; or perhaps this is nature, while
it is education teaches us to honour force more
than finesse ; that he will defend himself against
an host of enemies, always choosing rather to
be killed than surrender, though it be to the
whites f who he knows will treat him well ;
that in other situations also he meets death with
more deliberation, and endures tortures with a
fin » ness unknown almost to religious enthusiasm
with us.

''THAT he is affectionate to his children, care-
ful of them and indulgent in the extreme ; that
his affections comprehend his other connections,
weakening as with us from circle to circle as they
recede from the centre ; that his friendships are
strong and faithful to the uttermost extremity ;
that his sensibility is keen, even the warriors
weeping most bitterly on the loss of their chil-
dren,- though in general they endeavour to appear
superior to human events ; that his vivacity and
activity of mind is equal to ours in the same situ-
ation : Hence his eagerness for hunting and his
fondness for games of chance. The women are
submitted to unjust drudgery. This I believe
is the case with every barbarous people ; with
such force is law. The stronger sex, therefore,
impose on the weaker. It is civilization alone
which replaces women in the enjoyment of their
natural equality. That first teaches us to sub-
due the selfish passions, and to respect those
rights in others which we value in ourselves.
Were we in equal barbarism, our females would
ifc equal drudgery. The man with them is

VIRGINIA; 39

less strong than with us, but their women stronger CH \P.
than GUIS, and both from the same obvious rea»
sonb : Because our men and their women are ha-
bituated to labour and formed by it. With both
n ces the sex which is most indulged with ease is
least athletic. An Indian man is small in the
hand and wrist for the same reason for which a
sailor is large and strong in the arms and should-
ers, and a porter in the legs and thighs. They
raise fewer- children than we do: The causes of
this are to be found not in any difference of na-
ture, but of circumstances. The women very fre-
quently attend! ;g the men in their parties of war
and hunting, ch;ld bearing becomes extremely
inconvenient to them. It is said, therefore, that
they have procured abortions by the use of some
vegetable, and that it even extends to prevent
conception for a considerable time after. Dunng
these parties they are exposed to numerous hard-
ships, to excessive exertions and to the greatest
extremities of hunger. Even at home the nation
depends for food through a certain part of the
year on the gleanings of the forests, that is to
say, they experience a famine once in every year.
With all animals, if the females be badly fed or
not fed at all, the young perish , and if both male
and female be reduced to like want, generation be-
comes less active, less productive. To the ob-
stacles then of want and hazard which nature has
opposed to the multiplication of wild animals for
the purpose of restraining their number within
certain bounds, those of labour and voluntary
abortion are added with the Indian. No wonder
then if they multiply less than we do. Where
food is regularly supplied, a small farm will show
more of cattle than a whole country can of buf-
faloes. The same Indian women, when married
to white traders who feed them and their children

30

HISTORY OF

CHAP, plentifully and regularly, who exempt them from
excessive drudgery, who keep them stariqnuiy
and not exposed to accident, produce and raise
as many children as white women. Instances are
known under these circumstance s of dieir raising
a dozen children. An inhuman practice once
prevailed in this country of making slaves ot the
Indians.) It is a fact well known with us, that the
Indian women so enslaved produced and raised as
numerous families as either the whites or blacks
among whom they lived.'*

IT is a singular fact that almost all these de-
The same fects and vices were formerly objected to the
Spartans by their enemies. They were alter-
nately ferocious,* selfish or cowardly ;f insensi-
ble to the charms of beauty ; fond of destt o} ing
their neighbours ; dullj and inactive in times of
peace; full|| of perfidy and dissimulation in their
dealings and treaties ; delighting^ in war as af-
fording them an intermission of labour; unsoci-
able** in their private intercourse ; austereft an$
often inhuman in their treatment to their chil-
dren ; ungallantfj and barbarous in their man-

vices had

Spartans.

* Plato de leg. l.t.l.fi. 630; lib. 4. 705,.
t Pericles afi Thucyd. lib. 2. cap. 37.
\ Herodotus lib. 1. cafi. 66,

|j Eurifi. in Andrvm. r. 446. jirisiojihanes inpace^ v.
et 1067; in Lycisf. v. 630.

Tf Passim in historia.

** Pcricl. aii Thucyd. lib. 2. cafi. 37.

ft Ibid.

JJ Platodeleg. lib. 7.t. ll.fi. 806.

VIRGINIA. $

ners ; enemies* to the arts of elegance and re- CHAP,
finement, and like the beasts of the field, station-
ary in their understanding, f Yet this little com-
munity of savages have astonished the world by
their achievements, and have bequeathed to pos-
terity the most sublime examples of patriotism
and glory. The Indians, like the Spartans,
might reply to their enemies by the remark of the
lion, who, when he was shewn the figure of an
animal of his own species at the feet of a man,
contented himself with observing that lions were
not sculptors. "J

AN ordinary observer, who is acquainted
with their history, cannot avoid being struck
with the close resemblance between the customs
and manners of the two people. The fact is men-
tioned not with any view of building any theo-
ries of a common original on this coincidence.
Such an idea would be indeed preposterous.

BUT it may serve to abate the prejudices which
several ing.-nious men have circulated against
the Indians, by shewing that in the great leading
points of their character they are almost identi-
fied with a people, who lived in the midst of po-
lished communities, unaffected by their arts or re-
finements ; preserving for. ages their primitive
manners, notwithstanding the wide and intimate
intercourse which they held with all the Grecian
cities and the dominions of Persia.

IF the Spartans, surrounded by innumerable
temptatations and^ inducements and always pos-

* Plato de leg. lib. 7.t. ll.fi. 806.

t Plutar. Jfioth.in Lycurg. t. l.fi. 52. Ide.m Jfi&th.
cont.t. 11. /i. 217.

is, fi. 50, •vol. S.

HISTORY OF

CHAP, sessing- the power and means to alter their condi-
tion, held firmly notwithstanding, to the maxims
and manners of their fathers, the main objection,
to the capacity of the Indian for improvement va-
nishes ; all the arguments applying with ten fold
force in favour of a people for an infinite number
of ages, separated from the world, and who in the
short glimpse they had of the arts and civilization
of Europe, witnessed only the most enormous
vices.

IF in viewing this subject, owing to the frailty
of human judgment, I should be thought to
be led astray by a rage for hypothesis, I can
at least promise that my mode of treating it
shall be fair and impartial. The authorities on
which this coincidence of manners is imagined to
be found, shall be accurately quoted and the reader
may decide for himself if it be actual or merely
imaginary.

THE first point of resemblance between the
Indians and Spartans, is their respect for old age;
their profound respect and deference for the per-
sons and opinion of the elders of their nations.
To this sentiment amongst both there is neither
exception, or qualification : The war chief loaded
with scalps and the commanders of phalanxes
being alike under its controul.

*' EVERY nation," says Carver, speaking of the
Indians, " pays great respect to old age. The ad-
vice of a father will seldom meet with any extra-
ordinary attention from the young Indians : Pro-
bably they receive it with a bare assent : But they
will tremble before a grandfather imd submit to
his injunction with the utmost alacrity: The
words of the ancient part of their community are
esteemed by the young men as oracles. If they
take in their hunting parties any game that is
reckoned by them uncommonly delicious, it is

Their're-
spect for
old age.

VIRGINIA. 33

immediately presented DV them to the eldest of CHAP.
their relations. Nothing, says Charlevoix, can ex-
ceed the respect of the young |>eople to the aged.
" Old age," sa\ s the elegant author of Anacharsis,
" in o^hcr countries devoted to contempt, raises a
Spartan to the summit of honour.* The other citi-
zens and especially the youth, pay them all the re-
spect, \\hich they will in their turn require to be
paid to themselves. The law obliges them to give
way to the aged man wherever they meet him, to
rise to him whenever he enters where they are,
and to keep silence when he speaks. He is
heard with deference in the assemblies of the
people and in the halls of the gymnasium. "

To multiply further the pr«x>fs of their corres-
pondence in this p ;int would be ouh a waste of
time. It is sufficient that it is established by the
admis-ion ot the satiiisisof those people

THE stoical indiftlrer.ee; the apparent extin- Thtirstoi-
guishment of all natural affection hi the passion c»! u differ*
of patriotism, is alike observable in the Indian
and Spartan. " \our son is killed \\-ithoutquit-
ting his ranks," said some person to a Spartan
mother. " Let him he buried," was her an-
swer, " and let his brother take his place." Ano-
ther was told her five sons were slain. " I do
not come," said she, " to inquire of them, but
\vhether my country has any thing to fcar."| If
you inform an Indian that his children ;<re killed
or taken prisoners, he makes no compiling he
only replies, It docs not signify. { Their con-

• Phit Instil. Lacon. Ml./r 237.
•\ Pint, jf/iofihth. Lactn. t. \ 1. fl 542.

J Has an Indian been en?rau;er1 for several rlays in the
r.hace, or any other laborious expedition, and by accident

34 HISTORY OF

tempt of death and their constancy* in support,
ine torture is equally striking in both. 4l Tears nor

CHAP.

*• ing torture is equally striking

Their con- sighV says Anacharsis, *' do not accompany the

tempt of last moments of the d) ing ; for the Spartans are

death and no more astonished at the approach of death than

constancy they were at the continuance of life." " An In-

WS£***>" -T? Ca'7<Y' meets death when it up-
preaches him in his hut, with the s ime resolution
he has often laced him in the field. His inclif-
ferr nee relative to this important article, which is
the source of so man) apprehensions to ahnust
every other nation, is truly admirable. He takes
have of his friends and issues out orders for the
preparation of a least." Hie Spartans too had

continued thus long without food, when he arrives at the hut
orient of a friend where he knows his wants may be imme-
diately supplied, lie takes care not to show the least symp-
tom of impatience, or to betray the extreme hunger by
which he is tortured : Bui on being invited in, sits content-
edly down, and smokes Ins pipe with as much composure as
if even appetite was allayed, and he was perfectly at ease ;
he does the same if among strangers.

This custom is strictly adhered to by every tribe, as they
esteem it a proof of fortitude, an<l think the reverse would
entitle them to the appellation of old women.

Carver's Travels, /iage 138.

* Their constancy in suffering pain is beyond all expiession.
A young wcmi.n shall he a whole day in labour without mak-
ing one cry : if she shewed the least weakness, they would
esteem her unworthy to be a mother; because, as they say,
she could only breed cowards. Nothing is more common
than to see persons of all ages and of both sexes, sufllr for
many hours, and sometimes many days together, the
sharpest effects of fire, and all that the most industrious fury
can invent to make it most painful, Without letting a sigh
escape. They are employed for the most part, during their
buffering, in encouraging their tormentors by the most in-
sulting reproaches.

Carver'* History of America^ fiage 64.

VIRGINIA.

the custom of celebrating a funeral supper. The
funeral rites of Leonidab and his devoted band
were celebrated by their relations previous to their
departure from Sparta ; and such did Leonidas
himself celebrate in the Streights of Thermopylae
the night before the battle.

" 1 HAVE seen other combats," says the author
of Anacharsis speaking of the Spartan constancy,
" in which the greatest fortitude contends with the
most extreme suffering. At a festival celebrated
everj year in honour of Diana, surnamed Or-
thia, } outhful Spartans scarcely out of their in-
fancy, and chosen from all the different classes
of the people, are brought to the altar and se-
verely whipt till the blood begins to stream. The
pt iestess of the goddess holds in her hands a small
and light wooden image of Diana. If the exe-
cutioners appeared moved with compassion, the
priestess exclaims that she is no longer able to
b ar the weight of the sUitue. The strokes re-
double, and the attention of all present becomes
more eager. The parents of the innocent vic-
tims exhort them with frantic cries not to suffer
the smallest complaint to escape them, while
they themselves provoke and defy pain. The pre-
sence of so many witnesses, who watch their
smallest motions, and the hope of victory to be
decreed, him who shall suffer with the greatest
constancy, so steel them against their pangs, that
they endure these horrid tortures with a serene
countenance and joy, at which humanity shudders."
The constancy of the Indians under torture is
still more incredible. No historical fact, howe-
ver, is better authenticated. Even their enemies
admit that nothing in the stoa or gymnasium can
compete with the unconquerable obstinacy of Ln-
dian endurance.

THEIR taciturnity; their reserve, deliberation,

36 HISTORY OF

CHAP, and the character of their eloquence, are equally
l- remarkable. tk Accustomed as they are from
Their tac " Tne*r earnest vears to express themselves with
turn:ty, re- equal energy and precision, they are silent when
seivt and they have nothing to say, and apologize if they
delibera- have said too much.* Theephori (raring that the
tion. garrison of Dccelia should suffer themselves to

be surprised, or not intermit their accustomed
exercises, wrote to them only these words, " Do
not watt, "f If an Ind'un has discovered that a
friend is in danger of being intercepted, and cut
oft' by one to whom he has rendered himself ob-
noxious, he does not inform him in plain and ex-
plicit terms of the danger he runs in pursuing
the track near which such enemy lies. He first
coolly asks him which way he is going that day,
anel having received his answer with the same indif-
ference, <l tells him that he has been informed,
* that a dog tics near the spot "J " Indians are
exuemtly circumspect and deliberate h every
word and action." u They, (the Spartans) says
Anacharsis, despise the art but they esteem the
genius cf eloquence. This some of them have
rt coved from nature and have displa}ed in their
own assemblies, as also in the funeral orations,
which are pronounced every year in honour of
Pi'iibiinias arcl Leonidas. The eloquence of the
Indians, although occasionally enlivened and al-
ways illustrated by figures and emblems, like the
Spartan, comes directly to the point, and is re-
markable for the force and justness of the lan-

• Plutarc. in Lycurg. /.I.// 52. Thvcyd. lib* 4. caji. IT.
f AnucharsiS) ivho quotes Elcan. Far. /fa;, lib. 2. ca/i. 5.
\ Carver, fi. \ 37.
I) Ibidem.

VIRGINIA: 37

guage and sentiment. Even their figures are at-
tended with such peculiar felicity, that they pos-
sess all the terseness and spirit of t' c ep'^im.
Sometimes their orators are so wonderfully su-
biimc as to challenge comparison with die happiest
sper.inncns of ancient eloquence. The speech of
Logan, the Shawanese chief, has been given to
the woild by Mr. Jefierson, and is too well
known to stand in need of eulogy. The speech
of Garangula,* a Mohawk sachem, to Le B-»rre,
is distinguished alike for its keen irony, bitter
sarcasm, as its spirit and judgment. The
speech of the Shawanese chief, in delivering
young Field to the Virginia commissioners, is
perhaps not surpassed by any thing of its kind.
One would have supposed that their judgment in
connecting and enlivening a long discourse, and
their admirable skill in managing the most di Hi-
cult treaties, would have been sufficient to res-
cue the character of this people from the charge
of incapacity. But no difficulties will deter the
rage of hypothesis.

Jriow close is the resemblance tetween the two
people if we examine their treatment to their T!v.;r*r:n
children. From their earliest infancy, says R'iy "•"..•. HGI
nal, the parents respect the natural independence *j'^.u
of their children, and never beat or chide them,

* Monsieur Le liarre* willi 'lie whole fores of Canada,
marched against the Five Nations : But his army ixrins*
wasted by a contagious disease, he proposed to treat lor
peace, and endeavoured to conceal the situation of his army
by the haughty language of his speech.

GAR ANGULAR ANSWER.

« YONNOXDIO,

" I honour you, and the warriors that are with me ail like-
wise honour you. Your interpreter has finished your speech,
I now begin mine. My word* make haste lo reacli your
curs ; hearken to them. " Yonnonclio, you must have l>e-

38 HISTORY OF

CHAP, because they will not check that free and martial
spirit, which is one day to constitute their nrinci.
pal.character. " The children of savage>," adds
Charlevoix, " when they leave their cradle are not

lievcd when you left Quebec thai the sun had burnt up all
the forests which render our country inaccessible to the
French, or that the lakes had so fur overflown their banks
that they had surrounded our castles, and that it was i in pos-
sible for us to get out of them. Yes, Yonnondio, surely
you must have dreamt so, and the curiosity of seeing so
great a wonder has brought you so iar. No'v you are
undeceived, since I and the warriors here present are come
to assure you that the Senekas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Onei-
<lo',s and Mohawks are yci alive. I thank you in their name
lor bringing back into their country the calumet which your
predecessor received from their hands. It was happy for
you that you left under ground that murdering hatchet, that
has been so often dyed in the blood of the French. Heav
Yonnondio, I do not sleep ; I have my eyes open, and the
bun which enlightens me discovers to me a great captain, at
the hvad of a company of soldiers, who speaks as i*' he
were dreaming. He says, that he only came to the lake to
smoke on the great calumet with the Onondagas. Bu. Ga-
rangula says, that he sres the contrary ; that it was lo knock
them on the head if sickness had not weakened the arms of
the French.

'* I see Yonnondio ravin** in a camp of sick men, whose
lives the Great Spirit had saved by inflicting this sickness on
tl.em. Hear, Yonnondio, our women would have taken their
clubs ; our children and old men would have carried their
bows and arrows in the heart of your camp, if our warriors
had not disarmed them and kept them back, when your
messenger, Ohguese came to our castles. It is done, and
I have said it. Hear, Yonnondio, we plundered none of the
1'rench but those that carried guns, powder and hall to the
Twikties and the Chictaghicks ; because those arms might
have cost us our lives Herein we follow the example of the
Jesuits who stave all the kegs of rum brought to our castles>
lest the drunken Indians should knock them on the head. Our
warriors have not beavers enough to pay for all the arms that
they have taken, and our old men are not afraid a! the war.
This bell preserves my words. We carried the English into
cur lakes to trade with the Utawawas and Quato^hies, as

VIRGINIA. 39

confined in any manner, and as soon as they can
crawi upon their hands and feet, they let them
go where they will, quite naked into the water,
into the woods, into the dirt and into the snow,

the Adrondacks brought the French to our castles to cany
on a trade which the English say is their's. We are born
free ; we neither depend on •Yonnonclir nor Corltar. We
may go where we please, and carry with us whom we please,
and buy and sell what, we please: If your allies be your
sl«vfi, use them as buch ; command them to receive no
other but. your people. This belt preserves my words.

«• We knocked the TwicktWics and Chictaghicks on the
head, because they had cut down the trees of peace, which
were the limits of our country. They have hunted beavers
on our land. They have acted contrary to the customs of
all Indians, foi they took none of the beavers alive; they
killed both maic and temale. They broi.glit the Saiaius
into iheir country lotake part with thtm after they had con-
ceived ill designs against us. We have done lessthan either
the English or French ; they have usurped the lands ot so
many Indian nations and 'chased them irom their own coun-
try. This belt preset ves my words. Hear, Yonnondio,
what 1 say is the voice of all the Five Nations. Hear what
they answer , open your ears to what they speak. The Se-
ntkas Cayugas, Onondagab, O'lCicias ai.d Mohawks say,
that vviien they buried the hatchet at Cadarckut (in the j>re-
Sciice ci' youi predecessor) in the middic ot the tort, they
planted l he tree of peace in the same place, to be there- care-
fully 4>rLhei\ed ; that in case ol letiear for soldiers that fort
nuj;ni LK- a rcndezvr us tor merctiun:* ; that in piacc ol arms
and anununilion of war, bi overs and rnercnuiuit^c should
oi.iy enter Hit re.

i% Htar, Y nnnndio ; take care for the future that so great
a number ot aoiditrs as app.ar there do i?ot rhoak the tree
ol peace plaii'ed in so sn^aii a tort. It would be a great loss
ii jfier it had MJ eas.lytaktii HK>t, you sluKiid sir.;; i»s growllt
and prevent Us covciin^ y-ur courary and our's with it*
brancncs I assint v u in the name of ti>c Five Naiions,
Ihui our wuriiotb shal! tiance to the c;.luintt «>l peace under
Ub leaves, aiui bi.ail remain c:iuei on ;ht.ir malb, and shall
never dug up tue n«.u het t:il t .eir u'eituxn, Yonnondio oc

* Indian names for (/;? ^overwore of Vtnadtand A. England.

40 HISTORY OF

CHAP, which makes their bodies strong, their limbs
• supple, and hardens them against the t filets of
the air." The treatment of the young Spartan,
as given by ftnacharsis, would equally stand for
the Indian. " His delicate limbs,'1 says he, " are
not confined with bands which prevent their mo-
tions ; no care is taken to stop his tears, but
the}' are never excited by menaces or blows. He
is accustomed by decrees to solitude, darkness
and the greatest indifference in the choice of eat-
ables. He is alike stranger to the impressions of
terror, listless restraints and tmjnst reproaches.
Continually occupied in innocent sports, he en-
joys all tl:e sweets ol life, and his happiness hast-
ens the expansion of the powers of his body and
the fboullics of his mind."

Their mill- Do rot rheir military habits and customs pre-
taiy habits ciselv correspond ? War with both is a season of
an: cus- festivity. For then were immediately suspended
toms. those manual labours, which were looked upon

as beneath the dignity of freemen.

" IT is not in this mournful way," says Kay-
nal, " that the savages meet victory. They
march out in the midst of festivity, singing and
dancing ; the young married women follow their

Corlear, shall either jointly or separately endeavour to attack
the u-ujitry \\hich the Great Spirit has i^ivcn to our ances-
tors. This belt preserves my words, and this other the au-
thority which ihe Five Nations has ^iven me."

Then Garaogttla addressing himself to Muns. Le Main,
said,

" Take courage, Chinese, you have spirit; speak, ex-
plain my words; forget nothing ; tell all that your brethren
and friend say to Yonrondio, your governor, by the mnuth
of Garnngula, who loves you and desires you in u< vcpt of
thit> present of beaver, -''nd t>,ke pu:t with nv in nv least to
which I imiu y«,n TI is present is sent to Yonnonciio on the,
pail of the 1-ivt Nations.'*

VIRGINIA.

husbands for a day or two; but without shewing
any signs of grief or sorrow. These women,
who never once cry out in the pangs of childbed,
would scorn to soften the minds of the defenders
and avengers of their country by their tears or
even by their endearments." Anacharsis thus
describes the preparations for battle among the
Spartans: " On the day of battle, the king, in
imitation of Hercules, sacrifices a she goat, while
the Byte- players play the air of Castor : He then
sings the hymn of battle, which all the soldiers
with their brows girt with crowns, repeat in con-
cert."

BOTH the Spartans and Indians in their wars Bothprefet
prefer art and stratagem to force. Nor does this stratagem
proceed, as has been insinuated, from any want to force*
oi courage : But because the life of a citizen
was valued at a high rate, and their commu-
nities being small, it would be impossible in the
inidst of incessant wars, to preserve them, without
such a maxim, from extermination. " It is true,"
says Charlevoix speaking of Iri'dians, " that in
their wars they expose themselves as little as may
be, because they make it their chief glory never
to buy the victory at a dear rate ; and because of
their nations not being numerous they have made
it a maxim not to weaken them t But when they
must fight, they encrease their strength and cou-
rage. They have been in many actions with
our brave men, who have seen them perform
things almost incredible."

WITH the Spartans too, " the success which
has been obtained by prudence is preferred to
that which is gained by bravery only."

STILL more striking is their coincidence in Their ties
the manner of forming and preserving the ties of friend-
of friendship. "Then it is," says Anacharsis, shlP-

42 HISTORY OF

CHAP. « that they (the Spartans) begin to contract those
intimate connexions, which are little known in
other countries, and more pure in Lacedemon
than in the othtr cities of Greece. It is permit-
ted to each of them to receive the assiduous at-
tentions of a virtuous young man, attracted by
the charms of beauty and the still more powerful
charms of virtue, of which beauty is the em-
blem. The youth of Sparta is thus as it were di-
vided into two classes, the one consisting of those
who love, and the other of those who are be-
loved. The first, destined to serve as models to
the second, carry even to enthusiasm a sentiment,
which produces the most noble emulation, and
which with the transports of love, is in reality
only the passionate tenderness of a father for his
child, or the ardent friendship of a brother for
his brother."

" THE ties of friendship," says Raynal,
" among the savages are almost as strong as those
of nature, and .more lasting. These are never
broken by that variety of clashing interests which
in our societies weaken even the tenderest and
-most sacred connexion. There the heart of one
man choos.es another in which he deposits his in-
most thoughts, his sentiments, his projects, his
sorrows and his joys. Every thing becomes
common between two friend;; ; their union is for
lile. They fight side by side, and if one fall,
the other constantly dies upon his friend's body.
If they are separated in some imminent danger^
each calls upon the name of his friend ; each in*
vokcs his spirit. This is his tutelar deity."

.WITH Loth, war was a season oi rest and plea-
sure.* The contempt of cowardice and the pe-

* The intervals of the day are past in different amuse-
ments j for they are then subjected to fewer labours than

VIRGINIA. 43

nalties attached to it, were the same with both. CHAP.
Their equality ; their disinterestedness ; their * '
refusal to portion their daughters ; their respect "
for the laws and their ancient manners ; their cus-
tom of destroying their deformed children, were
precisely the same. '

THE general portrait of American manners General
will serve for the Indian of Virginia. In every Portrait WH1
lineament the resemblance is complete. To re- y-rve
view, therefore, each step on the scale would be a ir^n'
vain and useless repetition. Suffice it to say that the
character of their faces, their persons and man-
ners, is the same. There are, notwithstanding,
several incidents in the history of Virginia, which
having passed immediately under the observation
of the whites, will tend to confirm the correct-
ness of the portrait, and have the effect perhaps
of removing all scepticism on this subject.

IT will be certainly granted that the official acts
of our state governments during their colonial
and independent existences, and -their talks and
treaties with this people, afford a proof of a
nature the least suspicious and unquestionable.
It will be conceded at the same time, that no
vernments on earth have an equal opportunity of
observation and intercourse with them. The In-
dians subject to the Spanish governments in North
and South America are, it is true, beyond com-
parison more numerous : Thev live moreover in
tlie midst of their conquerors* But these Indians
have lost almost all distinct traces of thtir origi-
nal manners; they have in general abandoned
the hunter state: They are workers in the mines;
they are cultivators, mercha t or artisans: But

they were before they sook the nek! : Itnu-y be ^akl that war
h to them a time of leisure and rest.

44 HISTORY OF

CHAP, above all, they are slaves. With them the rude
virtues of their ancestors are forgotten. With
the exception of the natives of Chili and a few
roving tribes, this is a just picture of the Spanish
Indians. These are certainly improper subjects
for a fair examination.

THE Indians in the vicinity of the United
States, on the other hand, together with their in.
dependence, preserve their original character and
manners, and even their language. Their chiefs,
as I have before stated, led by business or at-
tracted by curiosity, visit our cities ; and the wise
policy of our government keeps regular agents
amongst them, with the double view of securing
their friendship and improving their condition.
Here then we have the subject to be examined,
together with the occasion and the means for a
fair investigation,

IT may not be improper to state, that a plan of
Plan of In- improvement for the Indians was drafted during
ciyili- t|ie administration of Mr. Washington, which
with some interruption has been constantly in
operation to this day. It was conceived by coL
Ha*wkins of North Carolina, a man, by his pati-
ence, temper and sagacity, admirably calculated
for so arduous and delicate an employment. The
history of this mission I have from the mouth of
this gentleman ; and the picture of Indian manners
is drawn from materials obligingly furnished by
him. They were not indeed so ample as I could
have wished, Mr. Hawkins having been able to
spare but a short time to this communication. I
have his promise, that at no distant day he will
transmit a more full and satisfactory account of
all the peculiarities of custom, of laws and man-
ners among this people.

His project to introduce civilization, he re-
presents to have beuiatone time hopeless..

VIRGINIA; 45

ing1 announced to the Creek nation the object of CHAP.
his mission, he was able, after repeated disap- I"
pointments and mortifications, to procure at
length an assembly of the nation. By the means
of a female interpreter, whom he was obliged
previously to instruct in the elements of English,
he slowly and perspicuously developed his plan
of civilization : What must have been his feel-
ings, when, instead of the approbation he had rea-
son to expect, each) section of his report was sa-
luted by a rudeness which decency cannot name ?

THE same contempt of the plan proposed was
manifested at succeeding meetings. The san-
guine temper of the projector, added to his ad-
mirable patience and address, alone prevented a
total and immediate failure. By well timed pre-
sents to the chiefs ; by a marked and flattering
attention to the women, who have considerable
weight in this and the neighbouring tribes ;
by the intrinsic value of the plan itself, and the
excellent capacity cf the people to whom it was
addressed ; but chiefly by the unvarying amenity
of his face and manners, he first procured silence
and attention, and gradually established conviction.
The dawn of civilization begins to appear. By
a vase and liberal policy, mechanic tools and in-
struments of husbandry are distributed amongst
the most industrious and deserving. An excellent
breed of cattle range along the extensive prairies
with which this country abounds : The other do-
mestic animals are introduced, and, at the time I
am now writing, the Creeks and their neighbours
are approaching the social state with a rapidity of
which there is no example in the annals of man-
kind.

CONTRASTED with a policy so noble, how sink
the petty expedients, the puerile and wicked ambi-
tion oi kings. Here we see government, according

HISTORY OF

The com-

figure o^n
the Indian.

to its true and original intendment, resolving it-
self into a scheme of ethics : Instead of ravaging
the earth ; burning its cities and murdering its
inhabitants, we behold it reclaiming the horrid
wilderness to culture, audits roving savage to
arts and humanity. How consoling to humanity;
how grateful' to science, must be the success of
this experiment. How delightful the sensations of
the intelligent projector, who lives amongst them
like a father in the midst of his children. The
result of his observations oh' their character and
manners, together with whatever else I have
thought accurate, shall be treated under the pro-
per heads, and if they add little that is new or in-
teresting, they shall at least reject the rubbish
of unnatural conjecture and preserve only what
is genuine and authentic.

THE face of the Indian when arrived at matu-
rity is a dark brown and chesnut. By a free use
of bear's grease and a continual exposure to the
sun and weather, it becomes harder and darker.
This, however, is not the natural complexion.
In infancy they are much fairer. * Their hair is
almost invariably of a coal black, straight and
long ; their cheek bones are high, and their eyes
black and full of acharacter of wildness andferocity
that mark their unappeasable thirst of vengeance,
and their free and uncontrolled indulgence of
every fierce and violent passion. But the educa-
tion of an Indian, which commences almost with

* " They are very swarthy," says Charl^voix speaking
of the Canadians, "and of a dirty dark red But this is not
their natural complexion. The frequent frictions they use
gives them this red, and it is surprising that they are not
blacker ; being continually exposed to the smoke in winter,
to the great heat in summer, and^n all seasons to the incle-r
inencies of the air."

47

his birth, teaches him that dissimulation, which CHAP.
masks the thought and smooths the countenance, *'
is the most useful of virtues ; and there is a con-
tinual effort to check the fierce sallies of the eye
and keep down the consuming rage of his bosom.
His eye, therefore, is generally averted or bent
downwards : The terrible complacency of the ti-
ger is no inapt illustration of an Indian visage.

THE figure of an Indian is admirably proper- His figure,
tioned beyond any thing that has hitherto been
seen of the human form. Tall, straight; their
muscles hardened by the continual action of the
weather ; their limbs supple by exercise and per-
haps by the use of oil, they outstrip the bear and
run down the buck and the elk. No such thing is to
be found as a dwarfish, crooked, bandylegged, or
otherwise mishaptn Indian.* A circumstance
so uncommon, which appears thus to put a check
on the gambols and irregularities of nature , has been
attempted to be accounted for in various ways.
The speculations of Dr. Robertson contain every-
thing which has been said on the subject.

*' SOME authors search for the cause of this
appearance in their physical condition. As the
parents are not exhausted or over fatigued with
hard labour, they suppose that their children are
born vigorous and sound. They imagine that
in the vigour of savage life, the human bodv
naked and unconfined from its earliest age, pre-
serves its natural form, and that all its limbs and
members acquire a juster proportion than when
fettered with the artificial restraints which stint
its growth and distort its shape. Something,
without doubt may be ascribed to the operation
of these causes, but the true reasons of this appa-

* fievcrley, Hist. Virg.p. 140.

i8 HISTORY OF

CHAP, rent advantage which is common to all savage
L nations lie deeper and are closely interwoven with
" the natnre and genius of that state. The infancy
of man is so long and helpless that it is extremely
difficult to rear children in rude nations. Their
means of subsistence are not only scanty but pre-
carious; such as live by hunting must range over
extensive countries, and shift often from place to
place ; the care of children as well as every other
laborious task devolves upon the women. The
distresses and hardships of the savage life, which
are often such as can hardly be supported by per-
sons in lull vigour, and must be fatal to those of
more tender age. Afraid of undertaking a task
so laborious and of such long duration as that of
rearing their offspring, the women in some parts
of America procure frequent abortions by the
use of certain herbs, and extinguish the first
sparks of that life which they are unable to che-
rish. Sensible that only stout and well formed
children have force of constitution to struggle
through such an hard infancy, other nations aban-
don or destroy such of their progeny as appear
feeble or defective, as unworthy of their protec-
tion. Even when they endeavour to rear all their
children without distinction, so great a propor-
tion of the whole number perish under the rigor-
ous treatment which must be their lot in the sa-
vage state, that few of those who labour under
any original frailty attain the age of manhood."*
Thepowers THE powrer and qualities of their minds are
and qiialw su(,h as we should expect from their state of so-

mind. ciet>r- In a state of nature the mir»d of man dif-
fers but little from the animals around him. Oc-
cupied in supplying his wants or gratifying his

Tol. % fl. T

VIRGINIA; 49

resentments, he has but little time or inclination CHAP.

for the labours of calculation or the refinements L

of abstraction. The sensible objects with which
he is most conversant impress themselves on his
memory in the order and degrees of their im-
portance; but their classification and the faculty
of generalizing them by an idea and term that
shall take in all the particulars and classes, are
the result of deep thought and intense reflection.
For this, leisure and application are necessary.
But the time of the Indian after returning suc-
cessful from the chace or victorious from the bat-
tle, is too valuable to be employed in such trifles.
His duty it is, to spread the feast ; to hear the
praises of the old men and the congratulations of
the women ; to attend the great council of the na-
tion and to sing the history of his own exploits :
If any time remain after discharging those duties,
he exercises himself in shooting the arrow or
throwing the tomahawk ; or stretched at length
along the grass enjoys that luxury of indolence
which constitutes the supreme blessing of his ex-
istence.

THE idea of numbers is therefore very limited
among the tribes. Some of them can reckon a
thousand, while others cannot exceed ten : To
express any greater number they are compelled
to resort to something indefinite. As numerous
as the pigeons in the woods or the stars in the
heavens, is a mode of expression for any greater
number. For the same reason their language
has no term for the abstract ideas of time, space,
universal, &.c. There is however a conjecture,
which if true, will prove that the Indians of
Virginia had a more copious arithmetic. It
is suggested that Tomocomoco or Uttomacco-
mac was sent to England by Powhatan, for

G

SO HISTORY OF

the purpose of procuring an exact account of the
number of the people of England, Tomocomoco
made the attempt till his arithmetic failed, but
before he would be sent on such an errand, he
must have been abte to reckon the Powhatans,
and these according even to the lowest estimates
amounted to eight thousand. They have at the
same time a method of obviating this want by
hyeroglyphics or sensible representations, which
combine at the same time the elements of draw-
ing and arithmetic ; an account of which is thus
given by Raynal.*

" Ihfi conqueror leaves his hatchet on the
field of battle, having previously engraven upon
it the marks of his nation, that of his family, and
especially his own picture ; that is to say, an oval
with the figures marked on his own face. Others
pj.iut all these ensigns of honour, or rather trophies
of victory, on the stump of a tree, or on a piece
of the bark, with coal mixed up with several co-
lours. To this they add not only the history of
the battle, but of the whole campaign, in hyero-
giyphic characters. Immediately after the gene*
ral's picture are those of his soldiers, marked by
so m.iny lines ; the number of prisoners pointed
out by so many little images, and that oi the
dead by so many human figures without heads.
Such art the expressive and technical signs which
in all original societies have preceded the art of
wriijng and printing, and the voluminous libra-
ries which fill the palaces of the rich and idle,
and encumber the heads of the learned "

YET is this prople, thus rude and unlettered,
full of genius and the most admirable capacity
for peace or war. It is truly astonishing to see

* Raynal's History of Americ^ jiage 4 1

VIRGINIA:

the patience and address with which they manage
the most important treaties : VViih what accuracy
they divide their discourse under several heads ;
never omitting an} thing interesting or impor-
tant to the purpose, embellishing it as thty pro-
ceed with touches of native delicacy and senti-
ments that often rise into the sublime ; and how
without any knowledge of the principles of gram-
mar there should be often found so much point
and precision in their language. The eloquence
of their speeches it may be safely affirmed has
never been matched by the productions of any
people in a corresponding state of society.

IT is owing to che same causes that tliey have
made but few improvements in the useful aits. Iron But few im-
has been thought necessary to the progress of ci- provements
vilization, and an ignorance of the uses of this in us
valuable metal an infallible index to a state of ex- arts§
trtme rudeness and barbarism. Vet the Indians
of this continent were ignorant of the Ui>e of iron.
Instigated by no wants ; impelled by no neces-
sity ; satisfied with the rich productions, which
they found scattered profusely on the surface ;
regarding indolence next to war as the chief bles-
sing : Is it wonderful that thty had not penetrated
the bowt is of he tarth, and subjected its pon-
derous orts to the tedious and doubtful operation
ot lire ?*

* " If they have brought noting to perfection anv more
than the most sagacious am 'Is, it is probably because tntse
people* havirij* no ideas bu su ; » as relate to their present
wants, the equality that subs' > > between them lays every
individual under the necessity of thinking for himself, aiul of
spending his whoie lite in acquiring this occasional learning
Hence, it may !>t reasonably inft-rr. d, ihat the sum total
of ideas in a society of savages is no more than the sum of
ideas of each individual."

Raynai's History of America, p.. —

HISTORY OF

CHAP.

I.

No written
laws.
The cus-
toms and
jiiar.ners of
the Indians

IT has been said that the Indian is the most im-
provident of animals ; that satisfied with his present
enjoyments, he wastes no thought on the mor-
row, and that repeated calamities have added no-
thing to his care or foresight. This may have
been true of some of the tribes in South America
or in the islands. The North American, and
mort especially the Virginian, always had their
public stock hoarded. Powhatan and the other
s^ c hems carried on a continual trade with the
first cjlonists for corn, and we find that Raleigh,
Baltimore and Pain derived their principal sup-
port from similar sources. But the quantity of
labour and industry required for raising this su-
perfluity was comparatively nothing. A few did
nor, us in established societies, work for the sup-
port of the whole, and for the purpose of ena-
bling the rich to vend their surplus commodities
in foreign markets. Here every man laboured for
himself or for the common stock, and a few days
in every 3 ear were sufficient for the maintenance
of each ID an, and by consequence, of all the mem-
bers of the tribe.

1 HE Indians of Virginia have no written laws,
but their customs handed down from age to age
in the traditions of their old men have all the
force of the best defined and positive institutions.
IN or is this respect acquired by the fear of punish-
ment. The aborigines of Virginia, whatever may
bt pretended, enjoy eel complete freedom. Their
sachems made their own tools and instruments of
husbandry : They worked in the ground in com-
ir-.on with the other Indians. They could enter
into no measure of a public nature without the
concurrence of the matchacomoco or grand coun-
cil ; anel c ven after this body had elecided on the
merits of the question, the consent of the peo-
ple at large was necessary to sanction their pro-

VIRGINIA: 53

ceedings. If the voice of this council be in fa- CHAP.
vourof war, the young men express their approba-
tion by painting themselves of various colours so
^is to render their appearance horrible to their ene-
mies. In this state they rush furiously into
the council : They begin the war dance, accom-
panying their steps with fierce gestures expres-
sive of their thirst of vengeance, and describing
the mode in which they will surprize, wound,
kill and scalp their enemies. After this they sing
their own glories ; they recount the exploits of
their ancestors and the ancient glories of their
nation.

* " WHEJJ any matter is proposed in the na-
tional council, it is common for the chiefs of the
several tribes to consult thereon apart with their
counsellors, and when they have agreed, to de-
liver the opinion of the tribe at the national coun-
cil, and as their government seems to rest wholly
on persuasion, they endeavour by mutual conces-
sions to obtain unanimity. Their only controuls
are their manners and their moral sense of right
and wrong, which like tasting and smelling in
every man, makes part of his nature."

" AN offence against these is punished by con-
tempt, by exclusion from society, or when the
case is serious, as in murder, by the individuals
whom it concerns, "f

* Jeff. dji. sor.

t Imperfect, says Mr. Jefferson, as this species of co-
ercion may seem, crimes are very rare amongst ihem ; in-
somuch that were it made a question, wether no lav/, as
among the savag« Americans, or too much law, as amcn^
the civilized Europeans, submits man to the greatest evils,
one who has seen both conditions of existence would pro-

HISTORY OF

' THE Indians of Virginia had no idea of distinct

and exclusive property ; the lands were in com-

Mode of mon, and every man had a right to choose or
reckoning, abandon his situation at pleasure. Their mode of
computation, as with us, was by units, tens and
hundreds : there is no light on the records by
which we may discover its limits or extent.
Analogy affords no helps on this occasion. The
Iroquois could reckon a thousand, whilst other
tribes, almost in their neighbourhood, could
count no farther than ten.

" THEY reckon their years by winters/ or co-
honks as they call them, which was a name taken
from the note of the wild geese, intimating so
many times of the wild geese coming to them,
which is every winter "

" THEY distinguish the several parts of the
year by five seasons, viz. The budding or blos-
soming of the spring; the earing of the corn, or
roasting ear time ; the summer, or highest sun ;
the corn gathering, or fall of the leaf; and the
winter, or cohonks." •

" THEY count the months by the moons,
though not with any relation to so many in a year
as we do : But they make them return again by the
same name, as the moon of stags, the corn moon,
the first and second moon of cohonks."

" THEY have no distinction of the hours of
the day, but divide it only into three parts, the
rise, the power and lowering of the sun ; and
they keep their accounts by knots on a string, or
notches on a stick, not unlike the Peruvian Quip-
ppes."#

nounce it to be the last, and that the sheep are happier
themselves than under the care of the wolves.

Notes, T/rg. page 133.
* JBevcrleir*

VIRGINIA. 55

As it suiter! the prejudices or theories of wri-
ters, the Indian has been represented as an aihe-
ist, or Mancr cean ; or to have been impressed Their reli-
with notions ol the deity, full of the most won- £lon*
deriul rtiinenient and sublimity. The most
monstrous coniradictions on this head are to be
found even when the sume country and the same
tribes are the subjects of iheir inquiry. Charle-
voix, and in general all the clerical writers, with
the exception of father Hcnnpin, pietend to have
discovered in their customs and traditionary his-
tory, traces ol scripture knowledge, and even
glimpses of the gospel. My information on this
interesting subject is derived from Mr. Hawkins
and an intelligent interpreter, who has lived forty
years among the Creeks, and who attended a de-
putation of the Creek sachems on a mission to
our government. Hib information corresponds
exactly with two of the chiefs who were tole-
rably versant in English, and whose replies
discovered an excellent capacity and a shrewd-
ness derived from some acquaintance with the
world.

THE Indians, according to their concurrent re-
port, entertain some vague idea of a pre -existent Their no-
cause, whose faculties and attributes are superior to tion of a
those of man and other animals : But with them God*
this is more a matter of fancy than belief. It is not
considered as a necessary tenet : No penalties are
conceived to be attached to infidelity either in this
world or the next They erect no temples to him ;
they seek not to appease his wrath, or solicit his
pardon and protection by prayers and sacrifices*
They have no days set apart for his worship.
They never kneel or prostrate themselves before
the sun or any of the other striking emblems of his
power and goodness. They return no thanks
lor their success in battle or in hunting, or dQ

56 HISTORY OF

CHAP, penance for their sins, as being the causes of their
*• afflictions. But acting in all things as if they were
independent and even co-ordinate beings, they
scarcely admit his superiority and appear indif-
ferent to his resentments.

THE causes of this indifference will be found
in the Indian character. Man has every where
been in the habit of drawing a portrait of the Al-
mighty from his own image. The moral attri-
butes of this being are also copied from the ope-
rations of his own mind. The principal features
of the Indian character are his complete equality,
his resptct for the rights and independence of
others, his sense of his own dignity, and his con-
tempt of the slavish forms of ceremon) in use in ci-
vilized states. These attributes, by a similar pro-
cess, he transfers to his God, and we may rationally
inier on those grounds that any extraordinary at-
tention would be equally disagreeable to this spi-
TheirMas- rjt an(j unworthy of him. The name for this in-
«f Great*11 vibiblc bein§ is' literally translated, Master Breath,
Spirit^ or the cause of breath, by which, they mean life
to other animals.

IT is curious to observe among savage nations
the almost invariable disposition to spiritualize
the deity. One would suppose that the first no-
tions of rude beings on this head would be sug-
gested by objects of sense. But perhaps a more
intimate acquaintance with their language and re-
ligion would shew that matter is not wholly ex-
cluded from their idea of a Supreme Being.

THE Iroquois and other nations of North
America, with the exception of the Mexicans
and Natchez, called this being by the title of
the Great Spirit, and some of the finest flights
of their eloquence have allusion to the agency
qf this being*

VIRGINIA* 57-

TH EIR ideas of a future state are equally CHAP,
vague and uncertain. They believe that those _
who have been distinguished as successful hun-
ters or hardv warriors, or such as have figured
in the national council, will be treated with mark-
ed attention by the Master Breath on their arri-
val in the region of spirits ; and that this Being
will afford them every assistance in forming an
establishment in their new country : But that the
cowards, or as they call them, the old women,
will be punished by neglect and contempt, and
obliged to shift for themselves. Here again we
behold the anxiety of man to transfer his institu-
tions to heaven Contempt and an exclusion
from society were the principal penalties in an
1: uin community, and their Master Breath in
their theology is made to discharge the duties of
an Indian sachem or matchocomoco.

BUT whatever may be entertained of the sub-
stance of their deity, they have taken care to
fill their paradise with every object gratifying ta
the sense. Clear rivers, abounding in delicious
fish ; woods ever green and affording a haunt to*
the deer, the elk, the wild turkey and the buf-
faloe ; a serene sky ; beauty glowing with eternal
youth unsusceptible of decay, and presenting in-
cessan ly virgin pleasures ; manhood strung with
a vigour untired, and renewed by enjoyment;
These are the enviable qualities of the world of
spirits.

IF we believe the accounts of Smith and Be-
verley, the Indians of Virginia were grossly su-
perstitious and even idolatrous. According to
them they have a sensible representation of the
deity, whose titles indifferently were Okee, J^///-
opcos, or Khvasa, as a sanctuary for wrhich they
have erected temples, or quioccasan. But if this
H

58 HISTORY OF

CHAP, were any thing more than a fable some traces of
.' it would be found amongst the Ordering Indians,

cr more particularly among the immediate de-
scendants of this people. The Tuscuroras, the
Nanticos, the Conoies and Tuteloes, who with
other tribes emigrated westward, would have
preserved some tradition "at least of opinions so
novel and extraordinary.

" THEY do not look on it as one being," says
Beverley, " but reckon there are many of the
same nature ; they likewise believe there are tu-
telar deities in every town."* This seems to sa-
vour of the heathen mythology : Yet notwith-
standing this he says :

ALTHOUGH they have no set days for per-
forming the rites of religion, they have a number
of festivals which are celebrated with the utmost
festivity. " They solemnize a day for the plen-
tiful coming of their wild fowl, such as geese,
ducks, teal, &c. for the returns of their hunting
seasons, and for the ripening of certain fruits :
But the greatest annual festival they have is at the
time of their corn gathering, at which they re-
vel several days together. To these they univer-
sally contribute, as they do to the gathering of the
corn : On this occasion they have their greatest
variety of pastimes, and more especially of their
war dances and heroic songs ; in which they boast
that their corn being now gathered, they have
store enough for their women and children, and
have nothing to do but go to war, travel and to
seek for new adventures."

THERE is a second annual festival, conducted
with still greater solemnity. It commences with a
fast, which exceeds any thing of abstinence

* Hist. Wrg.fa 160,

VIRGINIA. .

known among the most mortified hermits* This CHAP,
fast is succeeded by a feast. The old fire is put ^ J^;_
out, and a new fire called the drill fire elicited by *
the friction of two pieces of wood. They sprin-
kle sand on the hearths, and to make the lustra-
tion complete, an emetic is taken by the whole
nation. At this meeting all crimes except mur-
der are pardoned, and the bare mention of them
afterwards is considered as disreputable. At the
close of this festival, which continues four days,
a funeral procession commences, the significa-
tion of which is that they bury all the past in ob-
livion, and the criminals having tasted of the de-
coction of casina are permitted to sit down by the
men they have injured.

THE ceremony of huskanawing returns after
311 interval of fourteen or sixteen years, or more
frequently, as the young men happen to arrive at
maturity. This is intended as a state of proba-
tion preparatory to their being initiated into the
class of warriors and counsellors. The candidates
are first taken into the thickest part of the forest
and kept in close and solitary confinement for se-
veral months, with scarcely any sustenance be-
side an infusion or decoction of some intoxicating
roots. This diet, added to the severity of the dis-
cipline, invariably induces madness, and the fit
is protracted for eighteen days. During the pa-
roxisms they are shut up in a strong enclosure,
called an huskanaw pen, " on€ of which,1" says
Beverley, " I saw belonging to the Pamaunkie
Indians' in the year 1694. It was in shape like
a sugar loaf, and every way open like a lattice
for the air to pass through." When their doctors
suppose they have drunk a sufficient portion of
the intoxicating juice, they gradually restore them
to their senses by lessening the quantity of th£
potion, and before they recover their sr.nses they

6<J HISTORY OF

CHAP, are brought back to the town. This process is
1 intended to operate like Lethe on their memory.
" " To release the youth from all their childish
impressions, and from that strong partiality to
persons and things which is contracted before
reason takes place. So that when the young
men come to themselves again, their reason may
act freely without being biassed by the cheats of
custom and education. Thus they also become
discharged from any ties by blood ; and are esta-
blished in a state of equality and perfect free-
dom, to order their actions and dispose of their
persons as they think proper, without any other
controul than the law of nature."*"

IN order to have a more accurate idea of the
H«s domes- Indian we must view him in his domestic rela-
ttc relations cions, as a member of a social community. It
must be granted that the natural tics as well as
those imposed by the artifice of society, hang
much more loosely about them than the inhabi-
tants of more civilized states. But if the bands
be not strained as tight, they are equally strong ;
and their feelings not being regulated by penal
statutes, a silken thread binds them as forcibly
as a chain of iron.

MARRIAGE, or the union of husband and wife,
stood precisely on the same footing as amongst
the other American tribes. A man might keep
as many wives as he could support : But in ge-
neral they had but one, whom, without being
obliged to assign any reason, they might at any
time abandon, f and immediately form a new en-

* B ever Icy ) Virg. 180,

t Nothing appears to them more repugnant to nature
and reaSdn than the contrary system which prevails among
Christians. The Great Spirit, say they, hath created us

VIRGINIA. 61

/

gagemefit. The rights of the woman are the CHAP.
same with this difference, that she cannot marry _ !>
again until the next animal festival.

COURTSHIP was short, and like their marriage
unembarrassed by ceremony, if the presents of
a } ouiig warrior are accepted by his mistress, she
is considered as having agreed fo become his wifq,
and without any farther explanations to her family,
she goes home to his hut. The principles that are
to regulate their future conduct are well under-
stood. He agrees to perform the more laborious
duties of hunting and fishing; of felling the tix-e,
erecting the hut, constructing the canoe, and of
fighting the enemies of the tribe. To her cus-
tom had asigned almost all the domestic duties ;
to prepare the food ; to watch over the infancy of
the children. The nature of their lives and cir-
cumstances added another, which with more pro-
priety, taken in a general view, should have been
exercised by the male. It belonged to the wo-
men to plant the corn, and attend all the other
productions of an Indian garden or plantation.
But the labour required for raising these ar:
was trifling, and the warriors being engaged m
hunting and war, had neither leisure nor incli-
nation to attend to objects of such inferior con-
sideration.

To compensate for this seeming hardship or
neglect, the women had several valuable privi-
leges, that prove their importance and the respect

all to be happy ; and we should offend him were we to iive
in a perpetual state of constraint and uneasiness.

This system agrees with what one of the Miamis said to
one ot our missionaries. My wife and I were continually at
variance j my neighour disagreed equally with his j we have
changed -wives, and, are all satisfied.

RaynaTa History of America?

,(£> HISTORY OF

CHAP, entertained for them by the men. All the ftonours

g^ of an Indian community are maternal, and the

" children, in the event of a separation, belong to
the wife. The husband is considered only as a
visitor; and, should any difference arise, he takes
up his gun and departs : Nor does this separation
entail any disgrace upon the parties.

IF any crittit be due to the accounts of our early
Influence of historians, the women in the Powhatan contede-
ihe women. racy had considerable weight. Some of the tribes
had even female sachems, a regulation which
could not have been tolerated by freemen and
warriors if, as has been imagined by some histo-
ans, they had been regarded only as objects of
contempt and ill usage. What agitation and sor-
row were not excited by the death of Poca-
hontas, and how anxious the inquiries of her fa-
mily respecting her health and her feelings, her
content and her return ; and in what a touching
strain of sublime and unaffected eloquence does
the Shawanese chief describe the murder of his
wives and his children.*

IT appears by the same account that there was
a considerable vehemence and ardour of desire
among the Virginians. Powhatan had several
yowig wives; and as the strongest inducement
which could have been held out, he proposed to
captain Smith, as a reward for betraying James-
town into his hands, fifty young and beautiful wo-
men, independent of the territory of Capahowsic.
THE climate of Virginia is favourable to the
tender impulses of desire ; and the natural abun-
dance every where scattered over this del'ghtful
region left them at leisure to resign themselves to
the indulgence of its delicious pleasures. It was

* JVe/e*.

VIRGINIA. 63

iio uncommon spectacle to see groups of young CHAP,
women almost naked, frisking with wanton mo-
desty in the wild gambols of the dance ; whilst
the 'voluptuous expression of their eyes and ges-
tures invited to soft and tempting dalliance. Even
the decent Pocahontas did not disdain to mingle
in those pastimes. Crowned with a wreath of
leaves and flowers, she sometimes led the cho-
rus and presided in the dance.* Nor should this
be regarded as a deviation from the rules of mo-
desty and innocence. They acted agreeably to
the usage of their country and the dictates of na-
ture. Every object inspired happiness and con-
tent, and their only care was to crowd as many
pleasures as possible into the short span of a fieet-
ing existence.

THE other domestic relations were attended
with few of those tender endearments common
in other states. An Indian warrior disdained to
submit in anywise to the weakness and impotence
of sensibility. He hears with an unmoved coun-
tenance the death of his father and children, and
even the ruin of his nation. Education teaches
him the meanness and folly of being affected by
any reverses. But though he submits in silence
and seeming resignation, his soul is torn with
sorrow. This is still more true of the other sex.
The women, though they disdained to cry out in
the pains of labour, or even in the agonies of
death, are often inconsolable for the death of a
friend, son or husband, and every day visit their
graves.

THE political condition of the Indians of Vir-
ginia, like that of all the Indians of North Ame-
rica, was still more extraordinary. Their rights

* 'See Vol. I. and Bcterky

64 HISTORY OF

CHAP, were so ample as scarce to have any limits; their
duties so limited as hardly to have any existence :
Yet at first view their government, with its appa-
ratus of cockarouse, werowances and sachems,
has the appearance of regal government ; and
the opinion that the authority was hereditary,
and that there is an exact mode of defining the
descent would argue a fixed and regular tyranny.
IN order to have clear ideas on this subject, we
should clivest ourselves of all attention to names*
An Indian sachem had no attributes in common
with a king : Yet whenever we hear of a sachem
or werowance we are apt to associate the idea of
icgal authority. The sachem amongst all the
tribes was a magistrate either hereditary* or elec-
tive, according to their various customs : But in
ail cases without tribute, revenue or authority.
His duty was invariably to stay at home, whilst
the war chief, who was elected for his merit, was
fighting at the head of his warriors ; to preside
in the great council, where he had but a single
voice ; and in the absence of the warriors to
watch over the safety of the aged, the women and
children, an office of so little estimation that
amongst several of the tribes it was frequently
filled by women.

* They must be of an age fit to govern ; and if the he-
reditary chief is not of age, they choose a regent, who has
all the authority, but who exercises it in the name of the
minor. In general these chiei's do not receive any great
marks of respect, and if they are always obeyed, it is be-
cause they know how far their commands will have force.
It is true also, that they entreat or propose rather than com-
mand, and that they never exceed the bounds of the little
auihority they have ; thus it is reason that governs ; and the
government is the more effectual as the obedience is more1
voluntary ; and that there is no fear of its degenerating into
tyranny. Cawer'9 History cf *4mcrica} fiagc 18.-

VIRGINIA; e

A FACT in confirmation of this is related by CHAP.
Charlevoix. A female chief of one of the tribes
of the Hurons made repeated attempts in council
to procure the admission of a Christian mis-
sionary, but without success.

NOR is it the sachem only that is without power
in those singular communities : There is nothing
like what we conceive of authority* any where
among them. Even the great council of the na-
tion can do nothing but by advice or persuasion,
and every individual is at liberty to refuse obedi-
ence to its dtcisions.

EVEN in war there is no such thing as an im-
perative direction from a general to his soldiers:
Yet notwithstanding this uncontrolled licence,
the advice of the chiefs is scarcely ever rejected. f

MUCH is said in our early historians of the ty-
ranny of Powhatan, yet not a single fact is brought

* This body of counsellors or assistants is the first of all ;
the second is that of the elders ; that is to say, of all who
have attained the age of maturity. I never could learn ex-
actly what this age is : The last is that of the warriors ; it
comprehends all that are able to bear arms. This body has
often at its head the chief of the nation, or of the village ;
but he must have distinguished himself first by some brave
action, otherwise he is obliged to serve as a subaltern, that
is to say, as u common soldier, for there is no rank in the
armies of the savages.

Carver's History of Amerca, /uzgc 19.

t A great party may indeed have severa1 chitfs, because
they give this title to all those who have ever commanded ;
but they are not the less subject to the commander of the
party, a kind of general without character; without real au-
thority, who can neither reward nor punish ; whose soldiers
may leave him when they please, without his having a right
to say any thing to them on that account, and who neverthe-
less is scarce ever contradicted. So true is it, that amongst
men who govern themselves -by reason, and are guided bj

66 HISTORY OF

CHAP, forward in support of the assertion. Opechancaf-'
_. K { } iiough was said to have been jealous of Nematta-»
now; ytt he had no means of ridding himselt of
this warrior. The speech of Okaning, a young In-
dian without title, is an evidence of the free and
manly character of their thinking. The Poto-
macs and the Eastern Shore Indians refused to
take part in the massacre, although they were so-
licited by Opechancariough : Japazaws, when ask-
ed by the same chief to kill Kaleigh Crawshaw,-
politely refused, although the request was backed
by a present of beads and copper. But it is use-
less to multiply proofs when not a single act of
severity is specified; nothing beyond vague and
unsupported assertion.

THE order* and deportment of an Indian as-
sembly would not have disgraced the gravity and
dignity of a Roman senate ; and the effect pro-
duced upon a spectator, who is unacquainted
with their language and even prejudiced against
them, is in the highest degree impressive. JNor
is this effect produced by the grandeur of archi-
tecture or the splendor of dress. The council is

honour and a zeal for their country, independence does not de-
stroy subordination; and that a free and voluntary obedience is
gent rally the most to be'depended on : For the res the quail*
ties required in a war chief, are to be fortunate, brave and
disinterested. It is not strange that they should obey without
difficulty a man in whom these three characters are known
to be united. Carver *s History of America, fiage 19.

* Nothing is more edifying than their behaviour in their
public councils and assemblies Every man <s heard there in
his turn, according as his years, his wisdom, or his services
to his country Jiuve ranked him. Not a whisper is heard from
the rrst while he speaks; no indecent condemnations; no
ill timed applause. The younger sort attend ior their iu-
struction. British Jbrnjiirc in America, vol. 2, page 35 1 •

VIRGINIA.

a large sqaure space covered with rough boards ;
and the counsellors dirty savages wrapped in skins
and coarse blankets. It arises from the patience,
the temper, the animation, the regularity, and even
the eloquence of their action and deportment.
There we witness no impatience nor contradic-
tion ; no ebullitions of passion ; no bursts of rage
and invective ; no factious intrigues. The whole
subject is fairly and honestly before them, and it
is discussed with the patient judgment of sages
and the animated integrity of patriots. An in-
terruption would be considered as an unpardona-
ble insult : Perhaps it would not be too much to
say that there never was any such thing known as
an interruption in an Indian assembly.

BEVERLEY relates a story, which shews that
the Virginians entertained the same sense of de-
corum as the more northern tribes. In the time
of Bacon's rebellion a deputation of Indians was
sent to treat for peace with the English in New-
Kent. In the midst of his talk the speaker be-
ing interrupted by one of his companions, he in-
stantly took his tomahawk from his belt and split
his head. " The Indian dying immediately up-
on the spot, he commanded some of his men to
carry him out, and went on again with his speech
where he left off as unconcerned as if nothing had
happened."*

THERE remains one question to be discuss-
ed of considerable interest, as well from its real
importance, as from the various speculations and
conjectures to which it has giv~n birth.

WHO were the ancestors ol this people? It
would be idle to repeat all the unnatural opinions
which have been advanced on this head. Either

* Page 194.

8 HISTORY OF

CHAP, they came from the north of Europe and the north*
*• eastern part of Asia; * or they were placed here
from the beginning of the world.

WHATEVER offence it may give the pious, the
latter opinion would be certainly the most rea-
sonable if there had been no strong presumption
to the contrary. The striking affinity, however,
between the Indian languages and that spoken on
the eastern part of the ancient continent ; the simi-
larity between the customs and manners of both
afford strong presumption that they were origi-
nally the same people ; and when it be considered
to what a remote and high antiquity navigation
may be traced in the old world ; and that not a
single vessel of more dignity than a canoe has
ever been discovered in the new, it amounts to
something little short of certainty.

THE late voyages of the Russians and English
have discovered that the continents of Asia and
America were separated by a narrow streight, if
ii deed they are not united. The Esquimaux, on
the other hand, manifestly betray in dress, ap-
pearance and language their descent from the in-
habitants of Greenland : So that all the objections
arising from the difficulties of alongvo\agt in the
infanc) of navigation are removed; and two safe
and convenient points of communication area t once
laid open for the route of the original emigrants.

BUT the principal stream in all probability

* The cruel method of scalping enemies is practised by
all the savages of America, and perhaps is not the least
proof of their original from the northern inhabitants of
Asia. Among the ancient Scythians it was constantly used*
who carried about these hairy scalps as trophies of their
victory. They served them as towels at home and as trap-
pings for their horses abroad

Byrd's Journal, MSS. pen:

VIRGINIA. 69

flowed from the north-eastern extremity of Asia:
All the tribes from Cape Horn to the southern ex-
tremity of Labrador, exhibiting one uniform ap-
pearance, and a strong resemblance in their cus-
toms and manners to the rude inhabitants of those
regions.

I AM aware that by excluding the agency of
navigation ; by resting on the contiguity of the
continents, 1 leave the principal question indispute.
The Americans could have passed this strei^ht
with the same facility as the Kamskadales. But
the Asiatic inhabitants had every inducement to
emigrate : The Americans none. The one were
as it were imprisoned in as avage, dreary and fro-
zen corner of the earth. To them the produc-
tions of the earth were scanty, and its aspect de-
solate and melancholy : The ethers were the in-
disputed lords of an immense continent, fanned
by gentle gales; loaded with the fragance of in-
numberable flowers. The soil spontaneously and
liberally yielded her productions, and the care-
less and happy race feasted on the luxuries which
cost them nothing. Is it credible that the rich
champaignes of South and North America would
have been abandoned for the sterile and horrid
wilderness of Kamshatka and Siberia ? What
possible motives can be assigned for such a
change? Mr. Jefferson, a name of high authority,
appears to think that the reverse of this reasoning
is the fact. The arguments on which his opinion
are founded are too striking to be passed over in
silence.

"Bur imperfect," says he, " as is our know-
ledge of the tongues spoken in America, it suf-
fices to discover the following remarkable fact.
Arranging them under the radical ones to which
they may be palpably traced, and doing the same
of the red men of Asia, there will be found twen-

70 HISTORY OF

CHAP, ty in America for one in Asia : and those radic?!
languages so called, because, if they vvei< ever
the same, they have lost ail resetnbhmce to one
another. A separation into dialects may be the
work of a few ages only, but for two dialect-, to
recede from one another till they have lost all ves-
tiges of their common origin must require an im-
mense course of time, perhaps not less than ma-
ny people give to the age of the earth. A greater
number of those radical changes of language hav-
ing taken place among the red men of America,
proves them of greater antiquity than those of
Asia.1'

BUT independent of the serious objections to
which this hypothesis is exposed, may not the
disproportion between the radical tongues spoken
by the Americans and the red men of Asia be
accounted for in a different way ? The astonish-
ing population of the old world is something
more faanprima facie evidence of its antiquity.
But there is no need of resorting to this analogy.
Immense bodies of people huddled together in a
small space ; agitated by war and predatory in-
cursion, would naturally resort to confederacies
for protection. Such is the origin of the great
nations of the old continent. With the loss of
liberty, the attachment of the conquered states to
their language would become every day weaker,
and the language of the conqueror be insensibly
diffused over a number of dialects first corrupted
and finally forgotten. From the infinitely greater
population, those confederacies must have taken
place in the old world much sooner than in the new,
ev< n though they had started at the same time.
The sweater the extent of country, whose popula-
tion is in the inverse ratio of ilsextent, the fewer and
less powerful are their motives for confederacies.
As the danger became more pressing, the weaker

VIRGINIA: 71

states would continually be falling in until two CHAP,
gnat nations were formed, or as we often find in
hibtory , till both became united by fraud or con-
quest.

bn ALL tribes disperse* over an immense con-
tinent may always remove when their neighbours,
become troublesome. But where considerable
nations, as in Europe, are enclosed in a confined
territory ; shut in on every side by mountains or
the sea, they must fight or be enslaved; and alli-
ances are theribrc courted with a solicitude pro-
portioned to the danger.

THE tew radical tongues in Europe and Asia
must then be ascribed to the great extent of the
states into which they are divided ; and it is rea-
sonable to inter that a greater number of radical
tongues once exibted in them, which have perish-
ed, owing to trie innumerable revolutions which
have bo often changed almost the natural appear-
ance of those countries. How few of the ancient
languages have descended to us, even of those
nations which were once great and powerful. We
know nothing of the Assyrian, the Babylonish,
the Median; nothing of the innumerable tribes
that originally went to compose them, though
doubtless man) of them had distinct and radical
tongues ; and had it not been ior the protection
given to letters in Constantinople, and the taste
and curiosity of the Arabian conquerors, we had
probably known as little of the Greek and the
Roman. In iact, we know it has always been
the policy of the conqueior to introduce his lan-
guage, laws and manners into the conquered
states. The attempt of the Norman was nearly
successful in England, and that of Elizabeth in
Ireland, notwithstanding the strength and anti-
quity of those nations.

THE route of ttie Mexicans will aiTord some

T2 HISTORY OF

CHAP, ground of conjecture as to the first settlement
*• of this state, and of all the country extending to
the confines of Labrador. According to their tra-
ditions America was originally possessed by
small independent tribes, resembling in their
lives and manners savages in their rudest form ;
" That about a period corresponding to about the
beginning of the tenth century of the Christian
sera, several tribes moved in successive emigration
from unknown regions towards the west and
north -west, and settled in different provinces of
Anatuac, the ancient name for New Spain. These
more civilized than the original inhabitants, be-
gan to form them to the arts of peace. At length
towards the commencement of the thirteenth cen-
tury, the Mexicans^ a people more polished than
any of the former, advanced from the borders of
the Caiiiornian gulph and took possession of the
plains adjacent to the great lake, near the centre
of the country." A print has been published by
Gemelli Carreri, copied from a Mexican painting,
of the original route of their ancestors. In this
the various stations as they advanced are laid
down ; and it is, says Dr. Robertson, the same
route they must have held if they had been emi-
grants from Asia.

A MORE intimate knowledge of the Indians at
the back of our settlements would in all probabi-
lity have enabled us to mark the streams of emi-
gration to Virginia, and even to the confines of
Labrador. Unfortunately for science the history
of this people has always been considered too un-
ir.i[,ortant to attract our attention and we must
cc;;; tent ourselves with the imperfect lights de-
rived from conjecture and analogy.*

* I sh ill not erter into any inquiry about the origin of
languages spoken by the Delaware* and Ircquois j this being

VIRGINIA. 73

IT is fair to presume that the independent
tribes, unable to contend with the numbers and
unwilling to adopt the manners of those invaders,
continued to retire until they gradually spread

at present as difficult to determine as the origin of the na-
tions themselves, but will only observe that it seems very
probable that the Delaware and Iroquois are the principal
languages spoken throughout the known part of North Ame-
rica, Terra Labrador excepted, and that all others -are dia-
lects of them. Our missionaries at least, who are particu-
larly attentive, have never met with any which had not some
similitude with either one or the other; but the Delaware
language bears no resemblance to the Iroquois.

Though the three different tribes of the Delawares have
the same language, yet they speak different dialects. The
Unarms and Wunalacbtikos, who formerly inhabited the
eastern coast of Pennsylvania and New Jersey, nearly agree
in pronunciation, but the dialect of the Monsys, who for-
merly lived in Minissing beyond the Blue Mountains, dif-
fers so much from the former that they would hardly be
able to understand each other did they not keep up a con-
tinual intercourse.

The language of the Delawares has art agreeable sound
both in common conversation and public delivery. The
dialect spoken by the Unarms and WunaLchtikos is peculi-
arly grateful to the ear, and much more easily learnt by an
European than that of the Monsys, which is rougher and
spoken with a broad accent. However, the Monsys dialect is-
a key to many expressions in the Unamis and Wunalachti-
kos. The latter have a way of dropping some syllables, so
that without a knowledge of the former it would be im-
possible either to spell their words or guess their meaning.

The pronunciation of the Delaware language is in gene-
ral easy, only ct is a very strong guttural. The letters f,
v, ph and r, are wanting in thtir alphabet. They there-
fore omit them entirely in foreign words, and pronounce
them differently, for example, Pilipp for Philip, Peletus
for Petrus, Plisciila for Priscilla. They have few mony-
syllables, but a great number of pollysyllables or compound
•words.

In trisyllables the accent is generally placed on the mid-
dle and in poUysyllables upon the last but one. This must

A*

74 HISTORY OF

themselves beyond the Alleghany, the lakes, and
even to the borders of the Atlantic. If any atten-
tion be paid to the following stories, we have the
route of two emigrations from Mexico ; the one
into Virginia, the other by the Missouri and Illi-
nois into Canada.

Ou$ first historians state that Opechancanougli
came a great way from the south-west, according

be very minutety attended to, because the sense of many
words depend entirely on the accent.

We have already observed that several other languages
derive their origin from the Delawares, and this proceeds
thiefly from the vicinity or connexions of the different na-
tions. For instance the language of the Mahikans is nearly
related to the Monsy dialect, these two nations having for-
merly been neighbours in the province of New York. The
Shawanese Is also related to the Monsy, but more so to the
jMahikans, only the former generally place tlit? accent on
the last syllable. The Ottawa is nearly related to the Shaw-
anese, but the Ghipawa more immediately to the Delaware.
The language of the Twichtwees and Wawiachtcnos re-
sembles the Shawafiese in dialect ; the Kickapus, Tukach-
shas, Maskkos and Kaskaski differ from the Delaware in
proportion to their distance from each other, but are all
nearly related : Thus also the language of all those nations
formerly residing on the sea coast in Maryland very much
i'esemb<e the Delaware, differing only in pronunciation
and accent.

The Iroquois have one common language, but each of
the Srx Nations speak a different dialect, however they un-
derstand one another with ease. The Mohawk,' Oneida
and Onandago vary but little, the Cayuga rather more ; then
follows the Sencku, and last ot all the Tuscarora. The
languages of many other Indian na'ions are nearly related
to the Iroquois, especially the Huron which seems to differ
only in piv.nur.cia ion. But tin. Ciierokees speak a compound
of Shawanese, Iroquois, tiurons and others.

All these languages, however, are ->ubject to inovatrons
owing to the intercourse of the different tribes or their con-
nexion wiih the Europe-tins. A mixed language was thus
framed by the intenua- ryine; of the French and Indians in
Canada) which was countenanced by the French government.

VIRGINIA;

to their conjecture from Santa Fe, the mines of St.
Barbe, or some province bordering on thtr Mt-xi-
can empire. The other relation is to be found in
Charlevoix >s travels. According to the informa-
tion of an Indian of the Otchagra tribe.

" ABOUT two years ago, some Spaniards, who
came (as they say ) from New Mexico, intending
to get into the country of the Illinois, and drive
the French from thence, whom they saw with ex-
treme jealousy approach so near the Missouri,
came down this liver and attacked two villages
of the Octotatas, who are the allies of the Ajoues,
from whom it is also said they are derived. As-
these savages had no fire arms and'were surprized>
the Spaniards made an easy conquest, and killed
a great many of them. A third village, which
was not far off the other two, being informed of
what had passed, and not doubting but these con-
querors would attack them, laid an ambush into
which the Spaniards heedlessly fell. Others say,
that the savages having heard that the enemy were
almost drunk and fast asleep, fell upon them in
the night. One of the Otchagra chiefs (adds
Charlevoix) shewed me a Catalan pistol, a pair of
Spanish shoes, and I know not what drug, which.
seemed to be a sort of ointment, a part of the
spoil taken on this occasion."

How many facts of this* nature might have
been preserved if eve*n a slight attention had been
bestowed on this subject, and what advantages
would not result from such an inquiry. We
might see the cradle of Indian population, and
the language of the founders of this people : We
might observe the successive emigrations, and
mark the changes of dialect in each : We might
compare those several dialects with each other
and with the modier tongue. Charlevoix judi-
piously remarks that the languages of nations a£»

76 HISTORY OF

CHAP, ford the best proof of their origin. We

*• _ have an opportunity of comparing the Mexican
" tongues with those spoken on the north of Asia,
and decide a question in the highest degree inter-
esting to a knowledge of the globe and its inha-
bitants.

As it is, we know scarcely any thing on this
subject. We have been for two centuries inti-
mately conversant with the Indians of Virginia,
and yet perhaps there is not a single man ac-
quainted with the language of the Powhatans ; u
few wretched remnants of tribes once numerous
and warlike still exist amongst us, and no effort
is made to snatch from extinction a record so cu-
rious, and which would one day prove so valu-
able.

IT is suggested by an American historian that
three radical languages prevail throughout North
America: The Sioux, the Huron and the Al-
gonquin ; that by an acquaintance with the two
latter, a person may travel one thousand five hun-
dred leagues without an interpreter, for though
each nation has a particular idiom, yet he can
make himself understood by all ; even amongst
the Indians of New England and Virginia.
Those to the south of the St. Laurence as lar as
Virginia, speak the Huron.

Another I SHALL subjoin another speculation on this

speculation head by the author of the British empire in North
America.

THERE have been many conjectures, says
Wynne, concerning die origin of the different
nations of Indians in America, it being taken for
granted that they are emigrants from some other
country. But as the Indians are very careful and
solicitous to hand down their history from father
to son, the account they give of themselves seems
most deserving of credit. The Hurons and six

VIRGINIA.

77

confederated nations, and all. the other tribes to
the southward, except the Chickesaws, agree thai
they came from the setting of the sun into this
country. The Chickesaws came from South
America since the Spaniards took possession of
it. The Indians on the great lakes north of the
river St. Laurence, and those between that river
and the bay of Fund) and quite to Hudson's Bay,
northward, except the Esquimaux, assert that
they came from the northward."

M. LE PAGE DU PRATZ, being extremely de-
sirous to inform himself of the origin of the Ame-
rican nations, was continually enquiring of the Another,
old Indians concerning it, and was at last so for-
tunate as to meet with an old man, belonging to
the nations of the Jazous, called Moncucht-ape,
\vho was a man of sense and genius, and hav-
ing been possessed with the same curiosity as
himself, had spared no pains nor fatigue, to
get information of the country from whence
the north American nations came. With this
view he travelled from nation to nation, hoping
to discover the country from whence their fathers
had come, or to approach so near it as to get
some sure intelligence, and more particular tradi-
tions concerning their origin. In this expedition
he spent eight years, and M. Le Page du Pratz
having insinuated himself into his good graces
by all sorts of kindness, had from hira the fol-
lowing account :

" HAVING lost my wife and children, I re-
solved to travel in order to discover our original
country, notwithstanding all the persuasions of
my parents and relations to the contrary.

44 I TOOK my way by the High Grounds that
are on the eastern bank of the river St. Louis,
that I might only have the river Oubach to i
in order to join the Illinois at the village of Ta-

78 HISTORY OF

GHAP. maroua, a considerable settlement of the Cana-
1 dian French. As the grass was short 1 arrived
there in a little time. 1 staid there eight days to-
rest myself, and then continued my route along-
the eastern bank of the river Su Louis, a little
above the place where the river Missouri faili>
into it.

" I THEN made a raft of canes or reeds and
crossed the river St. Louis, and when 1 was near
the opposite shore I suffered my raft to be carried
down the stream till I came to the conflux of the
two rivers. Here I had the pleasure of seeing*
the rivers mix, and of observing how clear the
waters of the river St. Louis are before they re*-
ceive the muddy streams of the Missouri* I
landed here and travelled along the north sid£
of the Missouri for a great many days, till at last I
came to the nations of the Missouris. Witl*
them I staid a considerable time, not only to re-
pose myself after rny fatigue, but also to leani
their language, which is spoken or understood
by a great many nations. In this country one-
scarce sees any thing but large meads, above
a day's journey, and covered with large cattle*
The Missouris seldom eat any thing but flesh;
they only cultivate as much maize as will serve
for a change, and prevent their being cloyed with
beef and game, with which their country abounds*
During the winter which I spent with them, the
tiiiow fell to the depth of six feet. As soon as
the winter was over, I resumed my journey along
the banks of the Missouri, and travelled tilt I
came to the nation of the west There I was told
that it was a long journey to the country from
whence both they and we came, that I must yet
travel during the space of a moon (a month) to-
wards the source of the Missouri ; that then I
should turn to the right and go directly north.

VIRGINIA. 79

and at the end of a few days I should meet with
another river, which ran from east to west, quite
contrary to the course of the Missouri. Then I
might fall down this river at my ease upon rafts>
until I came to the nations of the Loutres or Ot-
ters, where I might rest and receive more ample
and particular instructions.

4<lN pursuance with these directions I travelled
up the Missouri during a month, being afraid of
turn ing to the right too soon, when one night af-
ter I had kindled my fire and was going to rest,
I perceived some smoke at a distance to wards the
place where the sun sets. I immediately concluded
that this was a party of hunters, who purposed
to pass the night there, and that probably they
might be of the nation of the Loutres. I imme-
diately made towards them, and found about
thirty men and some women. They seemed to be
surprized, but received me civilly enough. We
could only understand one another by signs. After
I had been with the m three days, one of the wo-
men being near her delivery, she and her husband
left the company in order to return home by the
easiest road, and took me along with them.

0VVE travelled up the Missouri seven easy
days' journey, and then went directly north for
five days, at the end of which time we came to a
river of very fine clear water. When we came
to the place where the hunters had left their ca-
noes, we all three embarked in one of them and
fell down the river until we came to their village.
I was very well received by them, and soon found
that this was indeed the nation of the Loutres,
\vhich 1 was in quest of: I spent the winter with
them, and emplo}ed ni) self in learning their lan-
guage, which they told me was understood by all
the nations which lay between them and the great
water.

80 HISTORY OF

" THE winter was scarce ended when I em-
barked in a canoe with some provisions, a
pot to cook them, and something to lie on, and
descended the river. In a little time I came to a.
very small nation, whose chiefs happening to be on
the bow, bluntly demanded, Who art thou ? What
business hast thou here with thy short hairs? I
told him my name was Moncht-ape ; that I came
from the nation of the Loutres. tie saw plainly
that I was not one ol the nation, and wondered
at my speaking the language. 1 told him that I
had learned it of an old man whose name was
Salt- tear. He no sooner heard the name of Salt-
tear, who was one of his friends, than he invited
me to stay in the village as long as I would. Up-
oil this i landed and told him that Salt tear had
ordered me to see an old man whose name was
the Great Roe buck. This happened to be the
father of the chief: He ordered him to be called,
and the old man received me as if 1 had been his
own son. and led me to his cottage. The next day
he informed me of every thing I wanted to know*
and told me 1 should be very .hospitably received
by all the nations between them and the great
waters, on telling them I was the fs lend of |Jie
Great Roe buck. 1 only staid there t\§o d-iys
longer : 1 then put on board my canoe a store of
provisions, prepared from certain small grains
less than French peas, which afforded an excel-
lent food, and immediately embarked. I con-
tinued to sail down the river, not staying above
a day with each nation on the way.

" The last of these nations settled about a day's
journey from the sea, and about the race of a
man (near a league) from the river. They con-
cealed themselves in the woods for fear of the
bearded men. I was received by them as if I
had been ons of their own countrymen. They

VIRGINIA. 81

are continually upon their guard, on account of
the bearded men, who do all they can to ciury oft'
young people, without doubt to make them
slaves. They told me these bearded men were
whiles, and had long black beards, which fell down
upon their breast ; that their bodies were thick,
and short ; that their he. ds were large and cover-
ed with stuffs ; that they were always clothed,
even in the hottest seasons, and that their clothes
reached to the middle of their legs, which, as
well as their feet, were also covered with red or
yellow stuffs ; that their weapons made a great
noise and a great fire ; and that when they saw
the red men (the natives) were more numerous
thaji themselves, they retired to a great canoe, (a
small ship without doubr) which contained about
thirty of them. They added that these strangers
come from the place where the sunsets (trie, west)
in quest of a soft yellow wood, which yields a
yellowish liquor of a fine smell, and which dyes
a fine yellow colour; and that observing they"
came every year as soon as winter was over to
fetch this wood, they had, according to the
advice of the old men, cut down and destroyed
all the trees, since which time they have not beet*
so often troubled with the visits oi these bearded
men ; but that they still visited every year two
adjacent nations, who would not imitate their po-
licy, because the yellow wood was the only wood
their count* y produced, and that all the neigh-
bouring nations had agreed to arm and join toge*
ther the approaching summer, in order to de-
stroy those bearded men at their next coming,
and rid the country of them. As I had seen fire
arms and was not afraid of them, and as the route
they purposed to take was the way to the nation,
I was in quest of, they proposing my going along

82 HISTORY OF

with them, I was readily agreed, and as the
mer came I marched with the warriors of the na-
tion to the general rendezvous. The bearded
mvn came later than usual this year. While we
waited for them the natives shewed me the place
where they used to lay their great canoe (the ship),
It was between two high and long rocks, which
forn.ed the mouth of a shallow river, the banks
whereof were covered with yellow wrood. It was
agreed to lie in ambush for the bearded men, and
that when they were landed and weie busy in cut-
ting the yellow wood, we should rise, surround
them ai>d cut them off. At the end of seventeen
days two great canoes appeared, and they came
to 'their usual place between the rocks. The fkst
thing the bearded men did after their arrival (for
there were two men privately placed upon the
rocks to observe (hem) v. as to fill certain wooden
vessels with water. At the end of the fourth
day they landed and went to cut the wood. They
had no sooner began to cut than they were at-
tacked on ail sides, but notwithstanding our ut-
most efforts we kihed but eleven, all the rest
fied to their little canoes and gained their great
ones, which soon launched into the great waters
and disappeared. Upon examining the dead 1
found them to be less than we are and veiy white ^
their bodies very thick and their heads very
large. About the middle of their head their
hair was 1< ng.

" THEY wore no hats as you do, but had their
heads bound ab ut with a great deal of some sort
of btuff Their clothes were neither of wool or
buck, but of something like your old shirts, very
soli and fine and of different colours (silk with-
out doubt). The covers of their legs and feet
were all of a piece. 1 endeavoured to put on one
of them, but my feet were too large* Of the

VIRGINIA: §3

eleven that were killed only t\vo of them had
arms, powder and ball. I tried these pieces, and
found that they did not cany as far as your's.
Their poavder was mixed of three sorts of grain,
large, middle and fine ; but the large made the
.greatest part. The^e were the remarks I made
upon the bearded men, after which, leaving the
warriors with whom I came, to return home , I
joined those nations who were settled upon the
coast farther to the west, and we followed the coast
which is directly between the north and the west.
When we came to these settlements I observed
that the days were a great deal longer than with
us, and the nights very short. I asked them the
reason of it, and they could give me none. I
rested with them a considerable time. Their old
men told me that it was in vain for me to proceed
farther. Tht\ said that the coast extended itself
yet a great way between north ai-.d west, and that
it afterwards turned short to the west, and having
run for a considerable distance it was cut by the
sea directly from north to south. One added,
that at low water one might see easily rocks and
shallows in the channel which hud formerly b< en
dry land. They all joined to dissuade me from
travelling any further., assuring me th it the coun-
try was cold and desart, destitute of annuals or
inhabitants, and advised me to re* urn to my
-own count- y. I accordingly took their novice,
and returned home by the way that 1 came."
Such is the account Moncht ape gave of his tra-
vels, and M. Le Page du Pratz observes, that
the g«/od sense and probity of the man left him
but 'little room to doubt of the truth of it. tie
also thinks it probable that the bearded men ire
the inhabitants of some isle in the neighbourhood
of Japan. The distance in a straight lire iroin
the Yazcus to the farthest nation Monchc-ape vi-

84 HISTORY OF

CHAP, sited upon the shores of the north-western ocea\i,
according- to the best estimate M. Du Pratz could
make, from die number of his days' journies and
rate of travelling, seems to be about an hundred
leagues."

IT may not be uninteresting to state the ground
Ground of of the opinion in favour of a Welsh discovery of
'°a America. It is extracted from the manuscript
/Weteh^ journal of colonel William Byrd, who in 17i£7
original* was appointed one of the commissioners on the
part oi Virginia to decide the long contested
question respecting limits between Virginia and
Carolina. The writer visited the Tuscarora set-
tlement, and received the tradition in the midst
of this people. It is but justice to add that he
was a man of admirable capacity and of the most
pointed regard to veracity and honour.

'' THIS tradition, altho' much alter'd by Jbe-
ing handed down through so many generations,
might have come originally from a colony of an-
cient Britons, who some centuries ago left their
own country and were driven to America. These
strangers, after several migrations, settled at last
among the Tuskeruda Indians, under the name
of the Doegs. This clan retain'd the British lan-
guage till the year 1060, as appears by the certifi-
cate oi a Welsh clergyman, who had been among
thtm. This reverend gentleman's name was
Morgan Joi.-es, \\ho wrote the following accptmt,
of which there is no reason to doubt the truth,,
the same having been since confirmed by other
travellers.

" THESE PRESENTS may certify all persons
whatsoever, that in the )ear 1660, * I being then
an inhabitant of Virginia, and chaplain to ma-
jor general Bennet of Nansemund county, the
said general Bennet and sir Wiiiiam Berkeley
sent two ships to Port-Royal in Carolina, which

VIRGINIA.

is sixty leagues to the southward of Cape Fear ;
and I was sent therewith to be their minister.

" UPON the 8th of April we set out from Vir-
ginia, and arrived at the harbour's mouth of
Port Royal the 19th of the same month, where
we waited for the rest of the fleet that was to
sail from Barbados and Barmuda, with one Mr.
West, who was to be deputy governor of the
said place. As soon as the fleet came in, the
small vessels that were with us sailed up the river
to a place call'd the Oyster Point.

" THERE I continued about eight months, all
which time being almost starv'd for want of pro-
visions, I and five more travelled through the wil-
derness till we came to the Tuscarora country:
There che Tuscarora Indians took us prisoners,
because we told them we were bound for Roan-
oke : That night they carry 'd us into their town,
and shut us up close by ourselves, to our no
small dread.

4< NEXT day they enter 'd into a consultation
about us, which, after it was over, their inter-
preter told us, that we must prepare ourselves to
die next morning.

" WHEREUPON, being very much dejected,
and speaking to this effect in the British tongue :
" I have escapt so many dangers, and must I
" now be knockt on the head like a dog ?" Then
presently an Indian came to me, which I found
afterwards was a war captain, belonging to the
sachim of the Doegs (whose original I find must
needs be from the old Britons,) and took me up
by the middle, and told me in the British tongue
I should not die, and thereupon he went to the
emperor of Tuscarora, and agreed for my ransom
and the men that were with me.

" THEY then welcomed us to their town,
and entertain'd us very civilly and cordially four

16 HISTORY OF

CHAR months ; during which time I had the opportunity
of conversing with them familiarly in the British
language ; and did preach to them three times a
week in the same language: And they would
usually confer with me about any thing that was
difficult therein ; and at our departure they abun-
dantly supply'd us with whatever was necessary
to our support and well being.

44 THEY are seated upon the Pontigo, now
called Pamptico river, not far from Cape Atros,
or Hatteras. This is a brief recital of my travels
among: the Doeg Indians.

MORGAN JONES, the son of
John Jones, of Basaleg, near
New- Port, in the county of
Monmouth.
New York, March 10th, 1685—6.

4r P. S. I am ready to conduct any Welshman,
or others to the country."

44 THESE Doegs were probably the descend-
ants of those Cambro Britons, who in ihj year
1170 quitted their country, and sail'd away to
America, under the conduct of Madoc ap Owen
Gwineth, a prince of Wales."

ACCORDING to Beverley, the Indians of Vir-
ginia, beside the dialects peculiar to the several
tribes, had a general language which, like the
Algonquin of Canada, was used in treaties and
important national concerns. This was said to
be the language of the Ocaneeches, which, since
the coming of the English was one of the least
considerable tribes in the confederacy. A compari-
son between these languages would possibly have
proved this to have diffi red little from the Algon-
quin. 1 find not the name of this tribe in Mr. Jeffer-
son's enumeration: The Richahecrians mentioned
in the second volume, are also omitted, althougji

VIRGINIA. $7

their existence is authenticated by an act of as- CHAP.
scmbly. He takes no notice of the Kahuanaws __
noticed by Golden in his history of the Five Na-
tions : But after all, these may have been only
different names of some of the tribes he has enu-
merated.

I HAVE at length brought to a close a discus-
sion, according to my judgment of great im-
portance : but to which the limits of this work
do not allow all the attention it merits. It was
oiiginally prepared in a more extensive form for
a history of the United States, and has doubtless
lose much of its spirit and connection by a hasty
abridgement.

THE following passages, omitted by mis*
take, in their proper places, are subjoined as
tending to enforce some positions in the narra-
tive.

SPEECH OF SHEGANABA, AN INDIAN CHIEF.

A YOUNG American, named Field, was taken
prisoner by the Shawanese Indians. At the con-
ciiibion ol peace, he was delivered up by Shcga-
naba, an Indian chief, to the American commis-
sioners at Fort Pitt. A fowling piece was pre-
sented Si icgunaba, who on tLkin^ it addressed
the commissioners in the following speech :

" CAN a man deserve reward for merely do-
ing h.s duty : But as you give it I will receive it;
and it any of your people, should come into my
country, eithu ltd by curiosity, or driven by the
hard hand of the conqueror, he siia.il be treated
with the same kindness as young Field. And I
tell you trus witn a tongue that never sported

HISTORY Of

with truth since it has known that falsehood was #
crime ; and I confirm it with a hand that never
shed one drop of blood in peace, nor ever spared
an enemy in battle. "

VIRGINIA; 89

" THE Indians of Virginia are almost wasted, CHAP,
but such towns or people as retain their names
and live in bodies, are here-under set down ; all
which together can't raise five hundred fighting
men. They live poorly, and much in fear of the
neighbouring Indians. Each town by the arti-
cles of peace, 1677, pays three Indian arrows for
their land, and twenty beaver- skins for protection
every year.

" IN Ace o mack are eight towns, viz. Matom-
kin is much decreased of late by the small pox,
that was carried thither.

" Gingoteque. The few remains of this town,
are joined with a nation of the Maryland Indians.

" Kiequotank is reduced to a very few men.

*' Matchopungo has a small number yet living.

" Occahanock has a small number yet living*

" Pungoteque. Governed by a queen, but a
small nation.

'• Oanancock has but four or five families.

" Chiconessex has very few, who jubt keep the
name.

" Nanduye. A seat of the empress. Not above
twenty families, but she hath all the nations of
the shore under tribute.

" In Northampton, Gangascoe, which is al-
most as numerous as ail the foregoing nations put
together.

" In Priiv;e George, Wyanoke is extinct.

" In Charles City, Appamattox extinct.

" In Surry, Nottavvayes, which are about a
hundred bow- men, of late a thriving and increas-
ing people.

u By Nansamond. Menheering has about
thirty bow- men, who keep at a stand.

" Nansamond. Aboui thirty bow-men: They
have increased much of late.

M

90 HISTORY OF

" In King William's county, Pamaunkie, has
about forty bow. men. who decrease.

" Chickahomonie, which had about sixteen
bow- men, but lately increased.

** in Kssex. Rappahannoek, extinct.

" In Richmond. Port Tabago, extinct.

" in Northumberland. Wiccomo^.co, has but
few men living, which yet ket keep up their king-
dom, and retain their fashion ; yet live by them-
selves, separate from all other Indians, and irom
the English."

A Theory of the Winds, extracted from the German

IT has been generally remarked that those American
provinces, which lie in the same latitude with Europe, suf-
fer a much severer and longer winter than the latter. The
ir.ost northern parts oi the United States lie in the same
degree of 'latitude with Great Britain and the chief parts of
Germany, but the winter is excessively severe and the
summer but short. Neva Scotia, the north part of New En-
gland arid the principal parts of Canada, are in the same de-
gree of latitude with France and the south parts of Germany;
but the winters of the former are very cold and 1 >ng. The
south part of New England, New York and the greatest
part oi New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the south part of Ca-
nada, lie in the same degree of latitude with Spain and
Ita y ; but the cold is very severe and lasting. Sometimes
indeed the heal of the summer is excessive; but sudden,
changes from heat to cold are frequent. Maryland) Virginia
and North Carolina are in the same degree oi' latitude with
the most southern parts of Europe; but have much moru
frost and snow.

This severi; y of climate probably proceeds from the
north and north-west winds blowing over an immense tract
ol land covered with mountains, lakes and forests ; but the
•svuiu o- inhabitants and the large forests contribute much
towards it. At the time when Tacitus wrote his history
of Germany, it appears that its winters were much more
severe and lastiug than at present. It is therefore probable
that the seventy of climate will abate in America in propor-
tion to its culture and population.

VIRGINIA.

In the country of the Datawares they have warm sum-
mers, the hottest mont'is are July and August, w hen woolen
clothes cannol be worn. Even in autumn, as late or la er
than Christmas, but little frost is seen, and if » ven in a clear
nig hi the ground should freeze, it thaws again soon after
su'i rise. In general the winter is> mslci weather, being
chiefly, rainy, damp and changeable ; after a lew clear days
rainy and f>ggy weather are sure to follow. The river Mus-
kingum being a very slow current, generally freezes once
or perhaps twice in a season.

The snow is never deep nor remains long- on the ground.
The winter between 1779 and 1780 was called remarkably
severe, as the snow fell once two ieet deep. In eight days
it was gone, and the cokl weather lasted only till Ft binary.
In the land of the Iroquois the col 1 is more intense and the
snow deeper.

The difference of one hundred miles to the north or south
makes likewise a grea1 difference in the temperatire of the
air. Near the river Sandusky the cold is much severer with
a greater quantity of snow, than on the Muskingum, and on
the Scioto ihe snow hardly ever remains on the ground.
The \%ea her varies also considerably on the east and west
sides of the Allegheny mountains : For in Pennsylvania
the cast wind generally brings rain, but never on the Ohio,
where the east wind seldom ever blows, and never above
12 hours at a time; but the south and west wind bring rain,
and the rains from the west generally set in for a whole week.

It even rains sometimes with a north-west wind. All
storms of thunder and lightning rise either with south-west
or north-west winds ; but in Pennsylvania thejiorth-wesfc
v.'inds bring clear and fine weather.

CHAPTER II.

The project of Spotswood revived after his dis-
missal.— 'The removal of Spotsivood accounted
for. — A more particular account of his project.
The Outaivas and the Outagamis. — They inter-
rupt the French communication between the St.
Laurence and the Mississippi — Spotswoodivishes
to conciliate them — is Jrustrated by the timidity
of Britain and the wakeful jealousy of France.
Comparative view of the French and British co-
lonies.— Foundation oj their respective claims.
Administration of Gooch. Colonial troops for
thejirst time serve out of the continent. Unsuc-
cessful attack on Carihagena. Spotswood ap-
pointed to command the colonial troops — He dies
in the midst oj the preparations — His character
— His humane policy towards the Indians. — Tus-
caroras — Their subjugation. The long contested
boundary with Carolina adjusted during his ad-
ministration. Wm. Byrd — his journal oj this
liansaction. Return oj Gooch with Virginia
troops. An assembly. — Governor's communica-
tion.— Burgesses condole with him on account of
the unfortunate expedition against the Spaniards
— Adjourn without making any provision for the
objects recommended by t/ie governor — His dis-
appoifitment and chagrin. Spaniards make a
descent on Georgia — ttritish men of war on sta-
tion, dispatched to her assistance. Detection of

an Indian conspiracy to rise upon the whites —
Express with an account of the discomfiture of
tin- Spaniards in Georgia. Prodigious increase
of Pennsylvania. General Oglethorpe raises a
regiment In Virginia. Account of a skirmish
between the militia and Sha-ivanese in Augusta.
Jjcath and character of commissary Blair. Fail-
ure of Oglt thorns attack on St. Augustine.
^Treaty at Lancaster ratified by the commission-
ers of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania.
A proclamation respecting impressment. Death
oj William ttyrd — His character. Aspect of Eu-
ropean affairs. Project to impose a popish pre-
tender— Account of this event transmitted to the
colomes. An assembly. — Governor's communica-
tion— Replies of council andburgesses full of loy-
alty. An increased expansion of mind visible
in the communications of government and the
newspaper productions about this time. The as-
sembly close without providing for objects recom-
mended by the governor. Edward Trelaivny, go-
vernor of "Jamaica, authorized to raise a regi-
ment in Virginia. Classic productions of Ame-
rica?! growth. Logan's translation of Cicero's
La to Major. William Stith's history. Address of
governor to grand jury against Methodists, Mora-
vians and Ne\v Lights. Account of the surrender
of Louisburg to the New England troops. Libe-
rality of Virginia in providing J or the 'wants of
the victors — of Pennsylvania — of the other
states. Account of prentender's arrival in Scot-
land.— Lovalty of council, burgesses. Convo-
cation and 'corpora & bodies in Virginia Session

closes to fits sniiitMion of the different branches
of government. Advice from Boston 0* a pro-
jected expedition — Goqch appoint ea con imander.
Capnd burnt— Assembly converted at College. —

$5

Attempt to remove the seat of government.— Assembly re* CH\P.
fuse to prepare temporary accommodations in Williams-
iurg Dissolved by proclamation. — Writs issued for a
general election — Assembly. Governor recommends to
build on the old foundation. This assembly important in
talents and character. Bill passes both houses for rebuilding
capitol in Wiiliamsburg* General revisal of laws. Go-
vernor intimates his intention to leave the colony. Several
grants to adventurers beyond the mountains Robinson
president Dies. Thomas Lee president. Assembly pro-
rogued — Assembly petition that one penny per pound be,
taken of from the tax en tobacco. Lewis Burivell pre-
sident Assembly farther prorogued — President permit?
Ntw York company to build a tkeat e. —Assembly again
ft orogited Robert Dinuiddie governor. Assembly dis-
solved. Short review of the war in the northern colonits^
vind of the state of arts and science in the other provinces.

96

CHAPTER IL

jec» of
Spotswood
revived af-
ter his dis-
missal.

The remo-
val of Spots-
wood ac-
counted for.

THE project of Spotswood, rejected during
his administration, was adopted after his dismis-
sal. This gentleman had given offence to the mini-
stry by urging with too much boldness the neces-
sity of establishing a chain efforts for the protec-
tion of the vast and fruitful champaignes betvveea
the Apalachian mountains and the Mississippi.
Dia appointed in this expectation he demanded that
the people employed in exploring the region be-
yond the mountains, should receive compensa-
tion from the British government. He had un-
dertaken, as he allegtd, the expedition* by de-
sire of the government, and its success would re-
dound to the safety and honour of the whole em-
pire : Nothing, therefore, he added, could be
more just than that its expense should be defrayed
by the government of the nation.* But an ad-
vocation of colonial rights by a royal governor was
an example equally offensive and alarming; and
he was replaced by Hugh Drysdale, who arrived
in 1723, and whose administration would have
been utterly unknown but for his signature to a
few acts of assembly.

OTHER causes have been assigned for the re-
moval oi Spotswood. It has been suggested that
his intimate knowledge of the country, arid more
especially of its true commercial and political in-

J Wynne's British Empire in N. dm* -vol. 2. /*. 238.

VIRGINIA. 97

terests had rendered him obnoxious to several CHAP,
leading families in Virginia, whose private views . _.

were frequently traversed by his projects, and
their importunities at length effected his recal.*

IT may not be amiss in this place to speak A more
something more fully of this plan, whose accom- particular

plishment was afterwards fraught with so many accountof
^r i i 11 j i. • i • his project,

eventful consequences to the world, and which in

its operation lighted up a most destructive war in
every quarter of the globe.

THE Outawas,* a powerful nation inhabiting The Outa-
the banks of the Ohio, almost directly in the wa*
French line of communication between Canada
and Louisiana, were thought to be well affected
to the English interest, and it was proposed to
purchase from them a tract of territory on this
river. Lower down, and in the same route, lay the
Outagamis, incensed against the French, by recent And the
injuries, and prepared to embrace any measures . Outagamii
calculated to gratify their revenge, and recover
their former reputation and prosperity. They
were ia the habit of intercepting the French par-
ties passing from Canada and Louisiana, and their 7hey ha(J
ferocious courage had inspired with terror the ^^i!" lj'e?
neighbouring Indians, who considered them even communT-
more terrible than the warriors of the Five Na- cation be-
tions. The t rench perceived that the destruc- twcen the
tion of this people was essential to the security of St- Lau-
their possessions ; and the conduct of the Outa
gamis having rendered them obnoxious to all the
neighbouring tribes, with the exception of the
Kickapous and Mascontins, a confederacy took

* l\ ynne's British Empire in America, vol. 2. fit 238,

f Now called the Twightees.

N

HISTORY OF

SpotswootT
•wis1 csto
conciliate
them

Is frustrat-
ed by i he ti-
midity of
Britain and
the jea-
lousy of
France.

place of those tribes in conjunction with France"
to cut them off'.

THE Outagamis were at this time besieging
Detroit, for the purpose of delivering it into the
hands of the English, to whom they \vere favour-
ably disposed, when they were attacked by a su-
perior body of French and Indians, and after
having performed prodigies of valour, were al-
most exterminated. The nation, however, not-
withstanding its losses, could still arm five hun-
dred warriors, and they had lately united them-
selves with the Sioux, the most numerous nation
belonging to Canada, and with the Chickasaws,
the most powerful tribe in Louisiana.*

OCCUPYING thus the avenues of communica-
tion, the Outawas and Outagamis, though lately
enemies, might have been both by some address
united in :t project for repelling the encroachments
of France. * One part of this plan had actually
been attempted by Spotswoxxi :f But it was ren-
dered abortive by the timidity of the British go-
vernment and the wakeful jealousy of France.
lie proposed, by a great colonial force assisted by
European troops, to attack the western Spanish
settlements, and he doubted not by a chain of
posts judiciously chosen, and the friendship of
those Indians, to cut off all communication and
concert between the French dependencies in
America, and immediately to gain possession of
the provinces of Spain, who was then actually at
war with Great Britain. J Dry sdule was succeeded
by Gooch, a brigadier general on the British esta-
blishment, who passed acts of assembly for the
first time in 1727.

Wynnes British America, vol. 1 .
Ibidem* \

VIRGINIA. 89

IN order to a correct knowledge of this admi- CHAP.
iiistration, it becomes necessary to speak some- n-
thing ot the French and English colonies; and"
th** views and pretensions ol those great rivals
respecting their territorial rights in North Ame-
rica.

TH E English were in possession of the sea coast, Compara-
the harbours, the mouths and banks of the rivers ; tlve vicvv
and some, though a very inconsiderable number,

had made a few settlements at more than one hun-

dred miles from the coast. The French were
not possessed of an} sea coast or harbours on
the continent, properly so calJed ; but had con,.
lined their plantations to the two great rivers,
St. Laurence and Mississippi ;* the one running
south and the other nearly north, their sources
being at no great distance from each other, and
forming a line almost parallel to the sea coast in-
habited by the English.

HERE was a territory sufficiently ample for all
the purposes of wealth and even ambition, if am-
bition ever could be satisfied. But the rooted
spirit of rivalship and hostility existing between
these powers since the earliest times, sought out
pretexts for quarrel even in those remote i eg ions ;
and war with all its horrors must be transferred
from the desolated and drenched plains of die
old world to stain the verdant bosom of the new.

THE French claims were founded on a sup- Foundation
posed discovery by La Salle of Louisiana, in- of tb'.ir re*
eluding the Mississippi and its branches, and or.
the ro}al charter. The English charters extended
the Bt itish settlements from the Atlantic ocean to
the South Sea ; a grant so general as to include
not only the territory which was becoming the

* Wynne's British America,

ICO HISTORY OF

CHAP, ground of dispute, but all the French and Spa-
11 nish possessions in North America. Those
grants, however, in their extensive signification,
\iere v/aved by Britain from the actual absurdity
and obvious impracticability of enforcing them;
and their claims became confined to the delight-
ful country between the Apalachian mountains
and the Mississippi. It was thought unneces-
sary to speak of the frontier of New York, the
Five Nations occupying the space between that
province and Canada; it was 'hoped that this con-
ftdtracy being in close alliance with the English,
their territory would be secure against encroach-
ment.

FHANCE, although for a long time she made
ro ..vowed objection to this claim, proves by her
conduct an tarly determination to resist any at-
tempt at an actual settlement of the territory in
question ; and for this purpose we find her so
e.riy as the year 1716 erecting Fort Frederick,
called by the English Crown Point, upon Lake
Chan;plajn within the territories of the Five Na-
tiors.* This encroachment was noticed by the
f « ^ < ruoi t of New York ; but it was not deemed of
feufficie lit importance to be even mentioned by the
British envoys at the treaty of Aix la-Chapelle.
In '17^1 tht\ built Fort Niagara, between Lake
Erie and Ontario, in the country of the Senecas,
by which they completely secured the communi-
cation between Canada and Louisiana.^ Yet this
n tw aggression did not seem at the moment to
have alarmed the British government to a just

* Smith's History of Nciv York.

t The son of the celebrated bishop Burnet.
\ Wynnes British America.

VIRGINIA.

sense of the pol'rcy of France, and we fin^ that CHAP,
in the war of 173^, entered into first with Spain I[
and afterwards with the united strength of the "
house of Bourbon, hostilities were principally
carried on at a distance, and the right of France
to those places was tacitly acknowledged by the
treaty of Aix-la-Chapelie.

DURING the administration of Gooch, Ame-
rican troops for the first time were transported Colonial
from the continent to aid in the offensive opera- troop* for
tions against the enemies' islands. An attack on first ume
Carthagena having been determined on, the co- servcouto*
lonies voluntarily furnished their quotas, who,
under the command of the governor of Virginia,
marched in this expedition, and after its lailure
returned home and \veredispersed.*

AT the commencement of the war of 1739,
Spotswood, who still lived retired in Virginia, Spotswood
was appointed to command the colomial troops ; aPiJoimed
and he was farther gratified with an assurance ^a^colo-
that his favourite project should be carried into nial troops,
immediate execution. But his death, which took
place shortly after his appointment, again re-
tarded its accomplishment ; and the hasty spark
of colonial spirit was permitted to bum out for
the want of adequate support and well concerted
military enterprize from the mother country.

THE name of Spotswood has descended to us ^ deat«n
with scarcely sufficient alloy to constitute a hu- an£j Charao
man character. Innocent in his private life ; un- tcr. /

impeached in his administration of government;
a friend to the liberties of the colony without
losing sight of the interests of the mother coun-
try; a skilful and enterprizing soldier, he ap-
pears a star of no ordinary magnitude amidst the

* IVynn, Virg. Gazette,

HISTORY OF

darkness with which he is surrounded. His only
foible was the vanity of recounting his military
labours ; a foible for which considerable allow-
ance should be made when we consider the unme-
rited neglect and ingratitude with which his ser-
vices had been rewarded.*

Too much praise can scarcely be bestowed on his
humane and enlightened policy towards the Indi-
ans. This interesting people, reduced in their nu [Fi-
bers, and shorn of their savage glories by the hand
of civilization, found in the governor a benificent
father, equally anxious to relieve their necessi-
ties and improve their rninds by a knowledge of
useful ftrts and religious instruction. Professors
of pure lives and competent knowledge were sent
at the public expense amongst the most conside-
rable tribes for the purpose of exhibiting a con-
stant and lively example before this thoughtless
people. The effects, it is true, did not justify
the policy of this measure ; but this arose from
the mode of instruction in use at this time, and
the peculiar character of this people.

TH E ill success of his attempts did not deter him
from a farther prosecution of this humane project ;
and in consequence of the Tuscarqraf massacre in

* He was ii> the habit of shewing to his guests a four
pound ball that struck his coat.

t These Indians were heretofore very numerous and
powerful, making, within remembrance, at least one thou-
sand fighting men. Their habitations, before the war with
Carolina, was on ihe north branch of New rivei, commonly
called Connecta Creek, in a pleasant and fruitful country.
But now the few that are left of that nation live on the
north side of Moratuck, which is all that part of Roanoke
below the Great Falis, towards Albemarle Sound.

Formerly there were seven towns of these savages lying

VIRGINIA, 103

\i 12, the tributary Indians having become ob- CH\P.
j( cts of suspicion to the government of Virginia,
Sr^tsnood demanded the children of their sa*
chtms as hostages, and had them instructed at
the university of William and Mary in the rudi-
ments of English littranire, and afterwards in
mechanic arts suited to their most obvious necessities*
Ax the close of his adminibtration the long
contested question respecting limits was adjusted
by order of the provisional council, between the
states of North Carolina and Virginia. This
transaction derives its chief interest from the
agrency of colonel William Byrd, one of the
commissioners, whose journal of the route and
proceedings of the mission executed in a stile of

r<y far from each other, but now their number is greatly re*
cluced.

The trade they have had the misfortune to drive with the
English ha? furnished them constantly with rum, which
they htive used so immoderately, that what with the distem-
pers, and what with the quarrels it has begotten among
them, it has proved a double destruction. But the greatest
consumption of these savages happened by the war about
twenty-five years ago, on aceoun: of some injustice the in-
habitants of that province had done then* about their lands,

It was on that provocation they resented their wrongs
upon Mr. Lawson,* who, under colour of surveyor general,
had encroached too much upon their territories ; at which
they were so enraged that they way-laid him, and cut his
throat from ear to ear, but at the same time released the
baron of Graffeneid. whom they had seized, because it ap-
peared plainly he had done them no wrong.

This blow was followed by some other bloody actions on
the part of the Indians, which brought on the war, in which
many of them were rut oft", and many were obliged to flee
for refuge to 'he Senecas ; so that now there remains so
iew that th«y are in dagger of beifig exterminated by the
Catsbaws, their mortal enemies. Byrd's Journal.

* Who has Ifft bcMnd an account of hi* tr*veb.

104

HISTORY OF

An assem-
bly.

coin mum
eaiicn.

CHAP, accuracy, and marked by a spirit of unaffected
humour, that do equal honour to his heart and
understanding, has descended to our times.

THE return of Goocli was the signal for call-
ing an assembly, and this body convened at
the capitol agreeable to adjournment. The late
unsuccessful attack on Carthagena, together
with the return of the governor and a number of
Virginians, who accompanied him on this expe-
dition, had communicated a considerable anxiety
to the colony, and the attendance of members
was unusally great. Immediately after they had
Governor's made choice of a speaker and the other officers,
the governor called them into the council cham-
ber and addressed them in a speech, which after
a slight notice of the late disasters, as usual, re-
commended various grounds for future improve-
ment and security.

AFTER a few common place observations up-
on the justice and necessity of the war in which
his majesty was engaged, with a cunning, per-
fidious and implacable foe, he called their atten-
tion to the unprotected state of the coast and
frontier ; and he proposed to them as an example
worthy of imitation, the paternal care and bounty
of the king, who had commmanded him to ap-
propriate the revenue arising from the duty on
tonnage to the purchase of powder and ball ;
and to cause the law on this head to be made
perpetual. He concluded by advising the repair
of forts, and the appointment of annual salaries
for officers and gunners ; and to keep I ort George
in a constant posture of defence during the war.*

THE answer of the assembly was polite and
affectionate. After congratulating his excellency

Virg. Gazette,

VIRGINIA. 105

on his safe return from the dangers of the late CHAP.

expedition, they concluded by expressing in ge- ^ ?!• .

neral terms their wish of co-operating in every ""
measure calculated to prove their attachment to
the king, the laws and constitution of the coun-
try.

BUT the assembly, notwithstanding the re- Assembly
spectful and even affectionate language of their make .no
address, shewed no disposition 'of complying ^objects
with the declared wishes of the king and his go- rccom-
vernor, notwithstanding this governor was de- menued*
servedly an object of their esteem. In fact forts
had ever been objects of aversion to the people
of this colony since the celebrated memorials of
Nicholson, and even from the rebellion of Ba-
con. Their dislike to those establishments was
confirmed by their extreme frugality of the pub-
lic money: A virtue which justified in some
manner by their past distresses, began to be re-
garded here as well as in England as the surest
test of legislative wisdom and integrity. The
governor finding little prospect of accomplishing
the objects recommended, hastily adjourned the
session, taking occasion previously to mingle
strong expressions of disappoitment and regret
with some general professions of respect and
courtesy.

AN act was passed during this session for esta-
blishing the town of Richmond, and for holding
fairs for its encouragement.

BEFORE the colony had time to recover from
the apprehensions excited by the defeat at Car-
thagena, an express arrived from the president of Descent of
South Carolina, with information that the Spa- Spaniards
niards had, with a considerable body of troops on Georgia*
and a large naval force, made a descent on Geor-
gia. A council was immediately called, and it
O

HISTORY OF

spracy.

CHAP, was unanimously determined to dispatch cnpta'm
JS!. _ Danclridgv, commander of the houth Sea Castle,

together with the snows Hawk and Swift, to the
assistance of general Oglethorpe. This affair
had scarcely been adjusted when a messenger ar-
rived from the governor of Pennsylvania, an-
Indian eon- nouncing the detection of a conspiracy between
fac Nanticocks and Eastern Shore Indians, in
conjunction with the Senekas, to rise upon the
people of Maryland. This attempt wras sup-
posed to originate in the failure of a demand made
by the Five Nations, of the lands west of the
Susquehannah. This report had communicated
the strongest alarm in Maryland, and the govern-
or and council with their usual dispatch directed
that a considerable quantity of ammunition should
without delay be forwarded to the frontiers.

As some consolation to these apprehensions, a
courier arrived express from general Oglethorpe
with intelligence of the entire failure and dis-
comfiture of the Spanish invasion : The dis-
Patcnes conveyed the strongest censure against
the government of South Carol ina, which, under
the pretence that all her disposable force was ne-
cessary to her owrn defence, ;.-b uidoned her neigh-
bouring sister to the mercy of her enemies. This
information operated like a cordial on the despond-
ing spirits of the colony. The conduct of Caro-
lina was every where the object of reproach;
whilst Oglethorpe and his brave followers were
extolled as perfect models of colonial gallantry.
ABOUT this time an entire revolution was in-
sensibly changing >some of the longest established
political maxims of all the colonies. Founded
ai different times, under differens charters, com-
pelled by the difficulties incidental to a new set-
tlement ~nU the hostility of the Indians to exert
their utmost means for their own security, their

Spaniards
GcoMa "

VIRGINIA: 107

growth was slow and they felt little power or in- CHAP.
clination to contribute either men or money to- _ Ir
wards any plan of general defence, or for the re-
lief of a distressed and invaded sister The jea-
lousy of commercial competition aggravated by
religious bigotry, tended still more to weaken
their attachments : We find them, therefore, in-
variably either declining all aid to each other, or
contributing with an air so ungracious, that their
bounty lost half its value, as their favour did half its
effect. A consciousness of their own prodigious
increase in strength, added to their apprehension

of French and Spanish encroachment, induced a increase of

change in this unwise and selfish policy. About Pennsylva«

this time they began to regard each other with the nia-

affection becoming children of the same common

parent. But it was not to each other alone that

their conduct and feelings had undergone a change.

The revolution of 1688 put an end to the ini-

quitous systems of coloi.ial oppression, devised

by Charles II. and carried into full operation by

his weak and wicked successor. They saw them-

selves snatched from the jaws of tyranny and su-

perstition by the success of William, ind bless-

ed the hand of their deliverance. Henceforth,

new principles of government more congenial

with the free and hardy character of their minds,

began to prevail. Their legislatures were no longer

insulted and hastily dissolved ; their citizens no

longer liable to arbitrary arrest. With the ex-

ception of some commercial restrictions, and even

these were generally regarded as doubtfuf if not

legal, the conduct of England was that of an af-

fectionate and provident mother. No wonder

then that the colonies sympathized in her good

and ill fortune. No wonder that they regarded

with ail the reverence of filial piety muigicd with

a, buitnnent of admiration, the venerable parent

08 HISTORY OF

CHAP. who smote the house of Bourbon on the land and
on the waters, and spread every where the lame
of English liberty and valour.

THERE was but a single exception amongst the
colonies to this sentiment, and perhaps we should
ascribe this to the peculiar habits and modes of
think ing amongst a particular religious sect, rather
th in to any want of attachment. Certain merchants
oi Philadelphia alarmed for the safety of the frontier,
and Irritated at what they conceived the parsimony
and obstinacy of the legislature, who refused ta
contribute any thing to its security, prepared a,
petition to die king, praying that some way
should be devised for compelling the attention of
Pennsylvania to an object so important to her
own safety and that of the other colonies.

IN reply to this it was urged by the legislature,
that in consequence of the charter of privileges
^ ,1/ied to them by William Penn, their first pro-
] or, and by an act of assembly dated October 4,
1 ('5, they were exempt from all military service.
That they had hitherto subsisted without forts or
militia; that being a peaceable people, they had
given no offence to their neighbours, and as their
neighbours had never yet molesteel them, they
apprehended they might hereafter subsist in se-
curity without any military force.

IT is to be regretted that the humane and noble
principles of this argument cannot be justified by
the circumstances of the world. But so long as
feud and violence prevail there is no security in the
most peaceful demeanor and the most upright in-
tentions. A majority of the assembly which pre-
pared this answer were Quakers, a sect whose
meek and inoffensive manners and humane pre-
cepts, did they universally prevail, would render
government superfluous, and make gentle per-
suasion and advice atchieve what has been vainh

VIRGINIA, 10?

attempted by the injustice and wickedness of san- CHAP.
giminary penal statutes. It may not be amiss to

notice, whilst I am on this subject, the prodigi- 1742.
ous increase of Philadelphia, an increase in a
great measure to be attributed to the principles
of the Quakers, bequeathed by their founder and
preserved with a piety not unlike what the Spar-
tans felt for the laws of Lycurgus. By a census
taken this year, Philadelphia alone was found to
contain seventeen hundred houses and ten thou-
sand inhabitants.

NOTWITHSTANDING the late failure of the
Spaniards the situation of the southern colony
was critical, and their alarm constantly kept alive
by the neighbourhood of St. Augustine. Inform-
ation was daily brought to Oglethorpe of the
great preparations going forward at this port, and
the number of ships of war and land troops which
had lately been seen entering its harbour. , The
improbability of being able to maintain himself
against any serious attack by the proper resources
of rhe infant settlement, was immediately obvious,
and as the conduct of South Carolina had in-
spired him with a strong disgust to the policy of
that colony, he turned his eyes to Virginia where
a more extensive population and a quicker sensi-
bility to the common interest and hononr, was sup-
posed to offer a better prospect of assistance.
Lieutenant colonel Heron was therefore dispatch-
ed with an account of the state of affairs, and
with the drums, commissioned and non-commis-
sioned officers, to raise a regiment in Virginia.
To render the scheme more popular, the princi-
ples of enlistment were suited to the wishes of
the people, who abhorred the perpetual servitude
of an English regular. They were to serve for
five years, and be only in America.

110 HISTORY OF

A CIRCUMSTANCE oGCinTccl at the time of He-
ron's arrival attended with the most fbrtimutc < f-
fects to his project. Captain Washington, with
a number of officers and soldiers belonging* to the
governor's regiment which had been discharged,
arrived at Hampton ; and as it is not easy to lay
down the habits we have once formed, and the
Georgia service was supposed to be less severe
than that in which they had been engaged, many
of them enlisted with Heron.

Skirmish AN account arrived of a smart skirmish in
between Augusta county between colenel Patten, at the
Shawenese jieag of a detachment of militia, and a party of
and party tM T -,. ,.,-,, . * /

of militia, khawanese Indians. 1 he parties appear to have
fallen in with each other by surprize. The In-
Pecember. dians immediately halted, and at the first fire kill-
1742. e(j captain M 'Do well and seven men. After this
acording to their usual custom, they retreated
about thirty yards, and after a pause of ten mi-
nutes, when the imprudence of the militia gave
them an opportunity, they repeated their lire.
The conduct of the militia on this occasion is al-
together unaccountable. Although they received
a reinforcement they were unwilling to pursue,
and retired under pretence of refreshing them-
selves. On their return the next morning they
found that the Indians had carried off their own
dead and stript and scalped the militia,* This
intelligence afforded the most serious alarm to
all the frontier settlements; and the governor
with advice of council took immediate measures
for averting the hostility of the Indians, by send-
ing commissioners amongst them, and in any
event for repelling their future inroads, by send-

* Gazettes.

VIRGINIA. Ill

ing a sufficient supply of ammunition to the fron-
tiers.

ABOUT this time Robert Dimvirlde and Lewis
Bunvell were appointed ^f his majesty's council
in the room of William Randolph and John Car-
ter, deceased; and Thomas Nelson, junr. ap-
pointed secretary in the room of Carter, ar-
rived in the colony.

A E OUT the same time died Blair, aged eighty-
eight, during sixey four yea's a minister of the
gospel, fifty-three years commissary of Virginia,
president of a college for fifty- one, and a mem-
ber of the king's council fifty. To considerable
learning he was thought to add in an eminent de-
gree the virtues of hospitality and generosity ;
whilst his manners in the discharge of his various
important duties conciliated the esteem and affec-
tion of the most opposite parties and opinions.

MEANWHILE an account arrived of the ill
success of the attempt against St. Augustine. Ul'success
The plan of Oglethorpe \vhich seems never to ^inTsL
have been sufficiently matured, was abandoned Augustine*,
after a short trial : In a word, the means were
found to be *v holly inadequate to the danger and
difficulties of the project. He had neither ships
to blockade the port and shut out supplies, nor
cannon to batter the place, and after having come
in sight of the town, he hastily re-embarked and
returnd to Georgia *

MEANWHILE" the apprehensions excited by SistJulf.
the late skirmish between the mi-itia and the *743'
Shawanese, was happily adjusted by a treatyf J

* Express.

t It appears by this treaty that the main body of the
Tuscarora nation had not joined the Six Nations at this

112 HISTORY OF

CHAP, held at Lancaster in Pennsylvania. The tatfa

^ **• of the Indian orators lasted fcr several days,

tween Vir- The governor and council of Pennsylvania, at-

ginia, Ma- tended by the commfcstoners of Virginia and

ryland and Maryland on the one side, on the other the ora-
Pcnnsylva- f ^ §• Nations, having, with Conrad

ma and Six _X7 . . . ' . &'- .

Nations. Weiser their interpreter, discussed the points in

dispute, with the order and formality usual in
the ratification of treaties, the hatchet was buried
and the silver chain of friendship brightened by
the delivery of several belts of wampum.*

A PROCLAMATION issued at this time, con-
taining some particulars worthy of notice. It
stated, by advice of the lords of the admiralty, that
his majesty's ships had received considerable in-
terruption, owing to a mistaken notion, that the
act of Anne prohibiting impressments in the co-

time, although Mr. Jefferson and even Mr. Golden seem to
be of opinion that they emigrated so early as the year se-
venteen hundred and twelve. It appears too that some fa-
milies of the Conoies remained behind.

There lives, said Casassatgeo, in his address to the Vir-
ginia deputies, a nation of Indians on the other side of your
•ountry, the Tuscaroras, who are our friends, and with,
whom we hold correspondence : But the road between us and
them has been stopped for some time, on account of the
misbehaviour of some of our warriors : We have opened a
new road for our warriors, and they shall keep to that ; but as
that would be inconvenient for messengers going to the Tus-
caroras, we desire they may go the old road. We frequently
send messengers to one another, and shall have more occa-
sion to do so now that we have concluded a peace with the
Cherokees.

Amongst these Tuscaroras there live a few families of
the Conoy Indians, who are desirous to leave them and to
remove the rest of their nation amongst us, and the straight
road to them lies through the middle of your country.

* Cobkn's five Nations,

VIRGINIA; 113

Ionics was still in force. He goes on to state CH\p.
v/hat is the interpretation of that law, and quoc. . ^j1-
ing the opinions of his majest} Js attorney and so- Proclama-^
licitor general on the subject the proclamation tion res-
concludes by stating the orders of the admiralty **&"•% '"»-
for putting the colony into the best state of de- Pressment»

ft*r\r»!* %:

• BY COMMAND OF THE GOVERNOR.

WHEREAS the lords of the admiralty have signified to
me, by a letter dated August 19th, 1743, That the com-
manders of his majesty's ships in America hav<r made fre-
quent complaints that they are often interrupted in endea-
Vi unnt> to procure seamen to make up their complements;
and that it appears to their lordships to be chiefly owing to
a mistaken notion, that the American act made in the rtign
of queen Anne, prohibiting the pressing there, is still in
force ; and their lordships being pleased to transmit to me
the opinions of sir EdwardNorthey, his majesty's iate attor-
ney-general, and of the present attorney and solicitor-gene-
ral, that the said act expired long ago ; I have thought fit
by advice of the council to have this published, that every-
body may be acquainted with the said opinions of these
gentlemen learned in the law, on a point which remains
here undetermined ; and about which people in these part*
are divided in their judgments.

WILLIAM GOOCH.

Co/iy of the opinion of the late sir Edward Northey, in rela»
tion to the American a€t} dated February \0t/i, 1715-16.

I am of opinion that the whole American act was intended
and appears only to have been intended for jhe war.

EDWARD NOR THEY.

Copy of the ofiinion* of the present attorney and solidtor-ge*
neral, dated July \7th, 1740.

We have perused the several clauses in the America^
P

114 HISTORY OF

AT this time William Fairfax, son of the pro-
prietor of Northern Neck, was appointed of his
majesty's council in the place of commissary
Blair, /ibout the same time died \ViIliam Byrd,
of the council, one of the most distinguished
rjiar.tcters which hud shone out for a long tune
in Virginia : A distinction not founded solely on
his wealth, which was great, or his station:
But his own personal merit. Extensive know*
Hischarao ^dge attaint d by study, improved by observation
^r. and refined by a familiar acquaintance with the il-

lustrious characters of his time, were the qualities
universal!) ascribed to him by the prints of the
day. How much of this eulogy is just, or whe-
ther his character in anywise corresponded with
this portrait, cannot be precisely known without
a more intimate knowledge of facts. It is uni-
versally agreed that his taste for expense, his mu-
nificence, not to say profusion, exceeded any
thing of the kind hitherto known in Virginia. It
is the duty of history to pronounce one part of
his eulogy, which, as it is justly earned, will

act, and by comparing the several clauses together, it
seems lo us, that the act is not, now in force, but expired at
the then war.

D. RYDER,
I. STRANGE.

Having received direction from the lords justices for putting-
the colony into the best posture of defence, upon the present
uncertain state of ^ubiic affairs, I hereby order and require all
commanding officers in the several respective counties, to
keep themselves prepared and in readiness against any at-
tempt that may be made upon this colony from any quarter
whatsoever, and to ate tha the militia be kept; under g'>od or-
der and discipline, and that they be provided with arms and
the law directs*

WILLIAM GOOCH;

VIRGINIA, 115

become him better than a thousand wreaths of
false and fantastic adulation. He telt a laudable
and rational pride in preserving the antiquities of
his country : Nor can we believe that this pro-
ceeded merely from the cold spirit of an antiqua-
rian. The antiquities he preserved contained ma-
terials for an history of his country.*

MEANWHILE the aspect of Europe rendered
necessary the most pointed attention to the seru- §ept. 4,
rity of the colony. To give the greater effect to 1744.'
the inveterate hostility which appears equally to Projen of
have influmed both nations, the court of France .Franre to
resolved to make use of the name of the ex popfsii
eluded family, and impose a king on England in tender,
spite of the wishes of the people. Report of
these preparations had already reached England,
and a suspicion arising of their true motives, an
account was transmitted to the colonies, with ad Nov. 21.
vice to put themselves in readiness against the 1745.
threatened danger. To carry into effect these
intentions, an assembly was necessary, and
this body was accordingly convened. The go-
vernor's speech, after a short apology for the se- Assembly,
veral prorogations, passing slightly • over some
matters of lesser importance, proceeds to detail
the motives which induced the treaty with the
northern Indians, and justifies the propriety of
purchasing the lands in dispu!e between tSicm and
the governments of Maryland and Pennsylvania,
instead of asserting it by arms. From these lo-
cal conctrns, it passes to matters of greater
magnitude. The battle of Dettiagen and the

* IV1SS. copies of his public and private journal are in
my possession, and the MSS. copies of the «ta'e records
from whence I derived materials for my two fir^t volumes,
were collected and preserved by him and his son.

116 HISTORY OF

daring courage and conspicuous gallantry of the
king are placed before the house as objects calcu-
lated to raise their devotion 10 his interest and
exalt their courage ; and whist this picture is yet
fresh upon their imaginations it lays before them
the diabolical project of France, in conjunction
with Rome, to impose on the English nation a
popish pretender. The several answers of the
council and burgesses* were mere echoes of the
speech. They appear however to breathe a spi-
rit be} ond the mere effect of forms. Both the
matter and manner ir.dted of the speeches and
addresses were certainly improving at this time :
r»or is it in these alone that amendment is visible.
The essays and light pieces to be found in the
periodical papers of the clay discover a greater
expansion of knowledge, together with a taste aid
judgment, which agreeably disappoint, because
they are wholly unexpected.

BUT the assembly, notwithstanding the ex-
August 10. pectation raised by their address, came to a close
\vi.huut making any provision for the object re-
commended in the governor's speech. A bill had
bu-ii brought in to raise a sum for the repair and
maintenance of the forts : But in tht course of
the debate it was discovered that nothing ade-
quate to the supposed exigencies could be gained
from the determined economy of the assembly.
The advocates for an immediate supply aimed at
too much ; and the bill after a long and warm

* The burgesses' answer concludes in these guarded
words i « We have the greatest satisfaction in assuring your
honour, that we will concur with you in every measure that
is necessary, with that cheerfulness and affection which be-
coii'.e a house of burgesses, tender and jealous of the honour
of the crown, careful and solicitous for the welfare and pros-
perity of this colony."'

VIRGINIA. 117

debate was negatived by a considerable majority. CHAP.
The governor's language in adjourning them, miu-
nifested thee deepest disappointment* but no A<;K ,.-
rude nor even impolite expression escaped him. meat.
He knew and respected the rights of the assem
bly, because that body was well acquainted with
their own rights and their power.

* Gentlemen of the Council, Mr. Speaker, and gentlemen of
the House of Bvrgesse*,

I AM now to give you my thanks for the bills you have
presented to me : Which, I trust, as I am sure they are cal-
culated with that view, will be for the benefit and conveiu-
tncy of the people. But,

Gentlemen of the House of Burgesses,

I did hope, in compliance with what I recommended to
you at the opening of this session, and indeed correspondent
to your address, you wou'd have contributed, either towards
repairing our butteries, which my concern for the public
safety prompted me to ask ; or, that the sense of the common
danger would have animated you with a more laudable zeal,
and warmed you into a vigorous and unanimous resolution)
of exerting your utmost efforts to convince your country, at
this perilous conjuncture, that you had made the best pro-
vision for her true interest and protection.

But since every motion of that kind has been rejectel,
and more effectual measures, though they obtained the cre-
dit of a bill, have been debated into a negative, that such pro-
ceed ngs may not be censured worse than they deserve.

Gentlemen cfthe Council and House of Burgesses,

I do expect from your known affection to his majesty's
person and government, that during your recess in your re-
spective counties, you will diligently discharge the duty in-
cumbent upon you, as well in your military as civil capaci-
ties ; by taking special care the several musters be attended
with proper officers, the men well disciplined, and provided
with arms andammunition ; and by sirictly putting the laws
In execution against all disturbers of the peace.

118 . HISTORY OF

ABOUT this time Edward Trelawney, governor

of Jamaica, was authorized to raise a regiment in

Governor Virginia; and the first public exhibition of any thing
of Jamaica in the nature of shews or entertainments, was exhi-
authonzed fc^ed about the same time. The main objects of cti-

!f vif " riosity in this exhibition were a solar, or as the acl-

^irnent in , * .

Vijginia. vertisemeni stiled it,a camera obscura microscope,
and a musical clock of the most exquisite work-
Growth manship, so organized as to play the most la.
and im- vourite opera airs and sonatas, with some of the
of Htcmure best pieces of Corelli and other masters. It was
recommended to the public by the assurance that
the king had bestowed the warmest praise on the
beauty of its workmanship and the wonderful
principle on which its harmony was founded.

SEVERAL other objects of literary curiosity
occurred during this period, confirming what has
been said of the growth of taste and expansion
of intellect. In the neighbouring colony of Penn-
sylvania Cicero's Cato Major, or discourse on old
age, was translated by James Logan. This was
erroneously supposed to be the first classic tran-
slation executed in the western world. It has
been already shewn that a translation of Ovid's
Art of Love by Mr. Sandys was done in Virginia
so early as 1624, more than a century before.
The newspapers of the day contain a notice from
William Stith, the historian, to his subscribers,
which shews that his valuable book was then in
a considerable state of forwardness.

And as you are, no doubt, impatient to visit your private
affairs, I shall keep you no longer than to acquaint you,
that I have thought fit to prorogue this assembly to the
third Thursday in December next ; arid this assembly is ac-
cordingly prorogued to thai time.

VIRGINIA.

THE address* of governor Cooch to the grand

jury til' the general court is t)ev:rvmg of notice.

It appe.ii s thai swarms of Methodists, Moravians Address of
and New Light Presbyterians, presuming on the governor

humane and tolerant spirit of the times, hud f0*?

jury.

* WILLIAMSBURG, APBIL 25th.

Thursday last being the fourth day of the general court,
his honour the governor was pleased to deliver the follow-
m£ charge to the gen icmen of the grand jury; which they
afterwards requested his honour to permit to be published.

Gentlemen of the Grand Jury,

Without taking notice of the ordinary 'matters and things
you are called to a1 tend, and sworn ».o make inquisition for,
I must on this occasion tuin to your thoughts and recom-
mend to your present service another subject of importance,
wnich I thank God has been unusual, bu., I hope, will be
most effectual, I mean the information I have received of
certain fasle teachers mat are lately crept into this govern-
ment; who, without order or license, or producing any
ttbt inonial of their educu ion or sect, professing themselves
mini-.ters under the pretended influence of new light, ex-
triror- i ary impulse, and such like satirical and enthusiasti-
cai knowledge, lead the innocent and ignorant people into
all kinds of drlubion ; and in this frantic and prophane dis-
gu se, though such is their heterodoxy, that they treat all
other modes of uorship with the u most scorn and contempt,
yst as it they had bound themselves on oath to do many
things against the religion of the blessed Jesus, that pillar
and stay of the truth and reformed church, to the great dis-
honour of Almighty God, and the discomfort of serious
Christians, thty endeavour to make their followers believe
that salvation is not to be obtained in their communion.

As this denunciation, ii 1 am rightly advised, in words
not decent to repeat, iias been by one of them publickly af-
firmed, and shews what manner of sp>» it they all of them are
of in a country hitherto remarkiblt? tor uniformity in wor-
ship, und where the saving crutsis of the Gospel are, con»
stantjy inculcated, I did promise myself, either that their

120 HISTORY OF

CHAP, spread themselves over the country, arid were at-

.- _.* ._. U mpting to propagate their doctrines with all the

ardour and vehemence of gesture, and boldnes of

denunciation, which mark the first moments of a

preaching would be in vain, or that an insolence so criminal
would not long be connived at.

And, therefore, gentlemen, since the workers of a deceit-
ful work, blaspheming our sacraments* and reviling our ex-
cellent liturgy, are said to draw disciples after them, and
we know not whereunto this separation may grow, but may
easily foretel into what a distracted condition, by long for-
bearance, this colony will be reduced, we are called upon
by (he rights of society, and what, I am persuaded, will be
with you as prevailing an inducement, by the principles of
Christianity, to put an immediate stop to the devices and in-
trigues of these associated scismaties, who having, no doubt,
assumed to themselves the apostacy of our weak brethren,
we mav be assured that there is not any thing so absurd but
what they will assert, nor any doctrines or precepts so sa-
cmi but what they will prevert and accommodate to their
favourite theme, railing against our religious establish-
ment ; for which in any other country, the British dominions
only excepted, they would be very severely handled.

Flowever, not meaning to inflame your resentment, as we
may without breach of charity pronounce, that 'tis not liber-
ty of conscience, but freedom of speech, they so earnestly
prosecute ; and we are very sure that they have no manner
of pretence to any shelter under the acts of toleration, be-»
cause, admitting they have had regular ordination, they are
by those acts obliged, nor can they be ignorant of it, not only
to take the oaths, and with the test to subsciibe, after a de-
liberate reading of them, some of the articles of our religion,
before they presume to officiate. But that in this indulgent
grant, though not expressed, a covenant is intended, where-
by they engage to preserve the character of conscientious
men, and not to use their liberty for a cloak of maliciousness,
To that I say, allowing their ordination, yet as they have
rot, by submitting to those essential points, qualified them-
selves to gather a congregation, or if they had. in speaking
all manner of evil against us, have forfeited the privilege
due to such compliance; insomuch, that they are entirely
without excuse, and their religious professions are very

VIRGINIA, 121

new sect in religion. Some accounts of violent CHAP,
and intemperate expressions on the part of these _ J/; ^
zealots had reached the ears of the governor, and "
he conceived it to be his duty to repress the fury
of a zeal which threatened the tranquility of so-
ciety.

GOVERNMENT had not yet learned the secret
of subduing the frenzy of religious bigotry by
suffering it to waste its powers, and perish by
convulsions of its own exciting. But this mis-
take was not confined to the governor. Almost
all the in ellie:ent men in the colony, and amongst
the rest several who afterwards became distin-
guished as the champions of an unqualified free- April 24,
dom in ever} thing relating to the human mind, 1745.
approved the doctrines contained in the gover-
nor's charge. Even the venerable name of Pen-

justly suspected to be the result of Jesuitical policy, which
also is an iniquity to be punished by the judges.

I roust, as in duty bound to God and man, charge you in,
the most solemn manner, to make strict inquiry after those
seducers, and if they, or any of them, are still in this go-
vernment, by presentment or indictment to report them to
the court, that we, who are in authority under the dtfender
of our faith, and the appointed guardians to our constiiuiion
and state, exercising our power in this respect for the pro-
tection of the people committed to our care, may shew our
zeal in the maintainance of the true religion ; not as the
manner of some is, by violent oppression, but in putting to
silence by sach method as our law directs, the calumnies
and invectives of these bo;d accusers, and in dispelling as we
are devoutly disposed, so dreadiul and dangerous a combi-
nation.

In short, gentlemen, we should deviate from the pious
path we profess to tread in, and should be unjust to God, to
our king, to our country, to ourselves and to our posterity,
not to take cognizance of so great a wickedness, whereby
the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is turned into
fiess.

122 HISTORY OF

tflcton, appears in the class of the persecutors,/
a proof that liberality and toleration are not in-
stinctive qualities, the growth of an hour ; but
the result of wisdom and experience.

THE coast of Virginia being left unguarded
by the departure of the royal ships for Europe
and New England, the governor engaged a Ber-
muda built sloop, and armed her for a guarda
coasta. A dispatch arrived from commodore
\\ ;arren,* announcing the landing of the New En-
gland troops under Shirley and Pepperel, in Cha-
Exprcss of paurouge Bay, and the capture of the grand bat-
the capture terv> This was quickly followed by an express
bur£ 1S °* lne surrtnder °* Louisburg and the island of
Cape Breton.

THIS singular expedition, concerted and exe-
cuted with such admirable skill and courage by the
New England states, was a profound secret to the
other colonies until the moment of its exe-
cution ; and was not more honourable to that con-
federacy than beneficial in its consequences to all
the colonies. Calculated as it was to enhance
Liberalit ^ie rePutat*on °* colonial bravery in the esteem
<rf Virginia. °f tne motner country, it was attended with the
more beneficial effect of raising them in their own
estimation. Virginia, once the enemy of the
New England states, less from feeling than com-
mercial jealousy and religious bigotry, and who
once pretended to contrast her own loyalty with
the turbulent spirit of these colonies, was not slow

* The substance of the letters of governor Shirley and
commodore Warren, referred to in the governor's message,
was to desire an aid of soldiers, ammunition and provisions,
for securing the conquest made of Cap« Breton The kind's
instructions, mentioned in the same message, arc general
to the goTcraore of thu northern colouita.

VIRGINIA- 123

«n this occasion to render a just tribute of praise CHAP,
to her illustrious sisters ; and if her feelings were
mingled with any thing like regret, it was that
she herself had no share in the glory of this
atchievement. But although Virginia had no part
of the honour arising from this gallant action, she
had yet an opportunity of rendering the conquest
more complete and certain by a liberal supply to
the garrison of that valuable fortress. With tiiis
view a proclamation issued that a free trade, free
of all duty, was permitted to Cape Breton : But
lest the benefits of this arrangement should be
too tardy for the wants of the garrison, the go-
vernor by advice of council purchased two thou-
sand pounds worth of beef and pork for this pur-
pose.

THE assembly of Pennsylvania^ although averse
to war, did not forget on this occasion the duties S7lvani*'
.of humanity. They subscribed four thousand
pounds ; 'tis true the king's instructions had re-
commended this conduct : But the character of
that assembly forbids the opinion that their bounty
was the result of any such influence.

MEANWHILE the storm of invasion, long
threatened by France, burst upon Scotland, where
it was hoped the prejudices in favour of the old
dynasty would favor the progres's of rebellion ; and
the first movements of the pretender appeared to
justify this expectation. The firsj notice of this
event produced a very strong sensation in Virgi-
nia, and the governor immediately called together
the assembly. The speech contained nothing that
was not already known. He gave to the people, ho\v-
ever, and their representatives, an opportunity
of speaking their will with an effect infinitely im-
posing. The college, the convocation of the
clergy, the council, the representatives of the
people, with one voice pledged thtir private re-

124 HISTORY OF

CHAP, sources and those of the colony to resist the arro-
gant and upstart adventurer, whose absurd preten-
sions had embroiled the nation. The governor
afttr directing their attention to the college, the
acts in favour of which were about to expire, and
recommending the support of thr troops destined
for.Louisburg, who had been forced in by bad
•weather, made use of these words which prove suf-
ficiently the great weight of this body, and how
thoroughly its powers were understood. He
stated that he had of his own accord given orders
fur the disembarkation of the troops and for a
supply of fire wood and candles, u promising to
report and recommend the whole to the conside-
ration of your house, in whose power it is to re-
lieve them."

THE convention of the clergy called together
by a circular letter from Dawson, president of the
college, sent addresses to the governor and king,
by the medium of the bishop of London, ex-
pressive of like sentiments of loyalty and attach-
ment. The council too came in for their share
of this overflow of loyalty ; the climax was cap-
ped by an address to the assembly full of pro-
fessions of gratitude for past favours, and signify-
ing in delicate terms their willingness to receive
some frt.sh marks* of legislative bounty for their
alma mater ^ the university of William and Mary.
The session came to a close without any occur-
rence to interrupt this harmony, or disappoint
those expectations. The soldiers were provided
for; the college felt the influence of the public
bounty ; appropriation was made for the sum paid
the Six Nations. It is not enough to say that
the governor was barely satisfied : His address
to the legislature at the prorogation evinces the-
wannest gratitude, the most cordial approbation ,

VIRGINIA; 125

A PROCLAMATION issued at this time against CHAP.
Romish priests, who, it is pretended, came as TI ...
emissaries from Maryland to seduce the people
from their allegiance : So strong an impression had
the late measures of France and the invasion of the
pretender left even on the mild temper of Gooch.

MEANWHILE an express arrived from Boston,
with advice of a projected expedition of some
consequence, in pursuance of which the gover- loth June,
nor issued a proclamation, directing the enlist-
ment of soldiers, who were to serve under his
own immediate command. The other colonies
\vere at the same time busied in preparations.
The quotas of Virginia and Maryland sailed
from Hampton under convoy of the Fowey man
of war, destined as was given out for Canada,
whose conquest could alone it was thought,
ensure any permanent repose to the British colo-
nies. But this expedition, prepared with so much
care and labour, the only one in which before
this time the colonies had generally united, pro-
duced nothing anywise answering to the public
expectation.

THE Capitol with all the public offices was
about this time destroyed by fire : And the go-
vernor summoned the assembly by proclamation
to meet at the college previous to the term of
their prorogation. Two other proclamations were
issued at the same time, the one offering a re-
ward for the detection of the supposed incendiary
of the Capitol, the other forbidding under severe
penalties the meeting of Moravians, New Lights
and Methodists.

THE answer of the house of burgesses to the
governor's speech disclosed a secret which had
hitherto been only^ittcred in whispers ; but which
had silently been gaming ground in Virginia.
Owing to the rapid growth of the colony she had

136 HISTORY OF

successively advanced her frontiers from the falls
to the heads of the rivers, and thence to the rich
vallies on the farther side of those enormous
mountains discovered and passed by Spotswocd.
The deputies of those remote places felt the in-
convenience of travelling so far beyond the cen-
tre of the colony to the seat of government, and
all became sensible that the principal tribunals for
administering civil and criminal justice might be
more advantageously situated in the heart rather
than at the extremities of the country.

THE fire had given the occasion wanted, toge-
ther with a body and form to the opposition ; a
certain expense was now to be incurred, and why
not at once make choice of some site for a city
worthy of the prosperous fortunes and future
destinies of this colony ?

" To lay the foundation of a new city," say
the burgesses in their answer, " to raise this
building in a place commodiously situated for
navigation, will complete the glory of your ad-
ministration, and transmit your name with the
highest lustre to future ages. With what plea-
sure may we then extend our view through future
centuries and anticipate the happiness provided
for posterity." Such are the lofty scenes which
the assembly, with the animated eye of hope,
see in the perspective of fancy.

BUT widely diffused as was the desire of re-
moval, it encountered a strong opposition from
local interest and attachment. The governor and
members of the council, together with some of
the most conspicuous characters in the colony^
were owners of property in Williamsburg, the
value of which would experience an inevitable
diminution by a removal. The influence of the
college and of the officers of government too
would be thrown into the scale of, opposition. To

VIRGINIA; 127

these were added reflections on the certain ad van- CHAP.
tages of the present site, and the hazard, incon- _
venience and difficulties of raising a new city 1745.
from the foundations.

FROM interests and feelirfgs so clashing as these,
little unanimity was to be expected. After a
violent debate, protracted for several days, a bill
for a removal passed the house of bugesses : But
was stopped in the council. This opposition in
the council gave rise to one equally obstinate in
the lower house, and a bill for preparing some
temporary accommodations for the purposes of
government on the old site was negatived. The
governor concluding that nothing was to be ex-
pected from so violent a contention of party zeal,
after an address wherein some passion was min-
gled with his usual politeness, prorogued them,
and some time after, rightly judging that elements
so repulsive could not be expected to adhere with
a stronger attraction in the short space of time al-
lowed by the prorogation, he dissolved them by
proclamation, and immediately issued writs for
a new election.

THE spirit and intelligence of the Virginia as~
sembly at this time will appear from a compari-
son with the other states. The opinions of the
attorneys and solicitors general respecting the
right of impressment in the colonies had never
been admitted in Virginia, and although lately
enforced by the governor's proclamation had ne-
ver received the sanction of an act of assembly.
The manner of the colonies was rather to elude
an act of the parliament or royal mandate than to
resist, and when they disapproved this uncharter-
ed interference, they were silent so long as it
confined itself to a mere assertion of power
without any attempts to enforce it. Impressment
was rarely resorted to in Virginia, and when at-

129 HISTORY OF

CHAP, tempted was invariably and successfully resisted
by the people. The assembly saw no necessity
for an interference ; the governor's proclamation
on a point supposed to affect the rights of the co-
lonists having little effect when opposed to public
opinion. But it was not thought prudent by the
Brittsh government to attempt the introduction of
any arbitrary measure in a province so high spi-
rited and alive to the purity of her institutions
and principles. It was usually stolen through
the legislatures of some of the other provinces in
the hupe of thus acquiring for it a sort of prece-
dent or authority.

FOR the same reasons the state of Massachu-
setts and the other members of the New En-
gland confederacy were generally exempted in
the first instance. In the present case it was
hoped that the military ardour prevailing in this
confederacy, added to the influence of general
Shirley would ensure an acquiescence to this sta-
tute ; 'but these hopes encountered a fatal disap-
pointment. The first attempt to enforce this justly
abhorred statute excited a riot, marked by the most
furious and terrific features. Civil government
tottered and sank beneath its fury, and even the
favourite Shirley, who attempted to enforce obe-
dience to it, was compelled to fly and take refuge
in Castle William.*

* BOSTON, DECEMBER 14th.

A letter writ by his excellency governor Shirley, to the
honourable Josiali Willard, esquire, secretary of this pro-
vince.

CASTLE WILLIAM, ,
SIR,

After suffering the insults of an outrageous mob at Bos-
ton, on Tuesday forenoon, by having nly house beset, and
one of the under sheriffs who was placed at my door> drag-

VIRGINIA: 129

THERE Is even reason to believe that the Mas- CH.\P.
sachusetts assembly, like that of Vi^inia, wink-
ed at the popular excesses on this occasion.

ged away from thence, beat, plundered and put in the
stocks ; and greater outrages committed at night in a re-
bellious manner upon myself and his majesty's council, by
being surrounded in the council chamber by an anned mob|
and assaulted there with brick-bats, and fay their forcibly en-
tering the town house, and after vards the same mob as-
sembling before my house in a tumultuous manner, and
threatening to burn a barge which they then thought be-
longed to his majesty, in my court yard ; possessing them-
selves of the gates of the town, and threatening to seize all
his majesty's officers then in the town and detain them as
hostages, and subject them to the violence of their arbitrary
and lawless will, in defiance and to the overthrow of his ma-
jesty's government; and findi g myself with ^ut a proper and
sufficient force for suppressing this insurrection and main-
taining the king's authority in the town ; the soldiers of the
militia there having refused and neglected to obey my or-
ders given them by their officers to appear under arms, for
quelling this tumult) and to k ep a military watch \t night;
and there being reason to apprehend that the insurrection
was secretly countenanced and encouraged by some ill mind-
ed inhabitants and persons of influence in the town ; and
that the same rebellious rout would be repea'ed the night
following; 1 did not think it consistent with the honour of
his majesty's government to remain longer in the midst of
it, destitute of all proper means for suppressing it, preserv-
ing the peace and protecting his majesty's subjects com-
mitted to my care, but have retired to his majesty's castle,
William, till I Can assemble a sufficient force of the pro-
vince militia from the neigbouring regiments in the country,
to quell the tumult and lestore his majesty's government
and the public tranquility in the town of Boston : For which
purpose I would have y u forthwith issue orders to the colo-
nels of the several regiments of ihe towns of Cambridge,
Roxbury and Milton, and of the regiment of horse; to
cause the officers of the respective regiments to hold them-
selves in readiness to march at an hour's warning, to suctk
place of rendezvous as I shall further order, which I ljopc>

K

130 HISTORY OF

GHAP. THE importance of the Six Nations ab'out
il* this time is proved by the proceedings of almost
"* all the colonial legislatures. Apprehensions were
entertained that the intrigues of the French had

together with such officers and gentlemen of the to\?n of
Boston, (of whose duty and zeal for his majesty's service
I received an undoubted mark in their message to n.e upon
this occasion by colonel Hu chinson) the sheriff and inferior
civil officers in discharging their respective duties for the
tnaintenance of his majesty's government and restoring the
public peace; and at the same time I would have you to
draw up letters to be sent wiih those orders to the several
colone s, pu porting the occasion of them, and my depend-
ence upon the duty ai>d zeal of their respective regiments,
for his service ; and then transmit the letters to me fairly
wrote, to be signed and immediately forwarded, 1 would al-
so have you take the first opportunity to Communicate this
letter to the gentlemen of his majesty's council and house of
representatives, and let them know that I am greatly con-
cerned at their being disturbed in the public business by this
rebellious riot and tumult ; and that I desire they would pro-
ceed in it, and that I vvill concur with them in any measures
for his majesty's service, and the interest of the province ;
and doubi not from their known zeal for both of being ena-
bled with their assistance, to set all things right now, and
pi event such riots in the town of Boston, and breaches in
his majesty's government for the future. I shall be likewise
glad ot the advice of the gentlemen of the council upon this
occasion, and of seeing them here for that purpose; if they
think his majesty's service require it.

Inclosed 1 send you governor Knowles's answer to the let-
ter which I sent him yeistcrday and read over to you first,
and which I am sorry has not procured yet the dismission
of the inhabitants of the province, lately impressed and car-
ried on board his squadron, as also of many other seamen
belonging to ouiwaul bound vessels; which I am satisfied he
would have clone instantly had not the outrages committed
on his officer and the king's government prevented him ;
and I am sorry to say that further obstructions are laid in my
way by the mobs securing and detaining captain Erskin, as
also some petty officers last night in custody ; but 1 have the
sutislaction to find that my answer to Mr Knowjes's letter
drum hence, has prevtmeU him from putting Ins resolutions

VIRGINIA. 131

?.

weakened their attachment to the English inter,
est, and the utmost solicitude is discovered to
conciliate them by presents : It appears that
these exertions were not without success : But

in execution, which, had I remaine-l jn Boston, nothing
wculd have hindeted I likewise received another lerttr
from him between three and four ociock this .morn ing, with
an offer of two hundred marines to reinforce the Ostlt, and
that he would come with them in person., but i instantly
excused myself from accepting his offer (as w>*at must have
cast a reflection upon the loyalty of the whol* province to
3\is majesty) by letting him know that I did not retire here
for safety to ray own person, but only to shew a public mark
of my resentment at the behaviour of the town uf Boston
upon this occasion, and until I had collected sufficient of
the country militia to quell the insurrection ; and that I had
not the least apprehension ol the Castle being in danger
from the mob; however, I found ihis morning he had b- ought
three of his ships nearer tbe Cas'le, and I hear, design* to
come near the next tide; but as I shall dine on board with
him to-day, I will endeavour to divert him fr,.m such
thoughts, and to influence him to discharge the inhabitants,
and as many others as I can n the end, but cat not promise
success from the present temper I hear he is in at Erskiir*s
being in the mob's possession ; which I earnestly wish could
be forthwith remedied. I have only to add, that notwith-
standing I think the soldiers oft he militia of the town of Bos-
ton have b; en very tardy in their duty on this occasion, and be-
haved very ill, I shall be concerned at fixing .a lasting brand
upon the town for their failure in it, and therefore, notwith-
standing my b< fore mentioned orders (which I will not sus-
pend) if they will obey the orders thty have received by .-p-
pearing forthwith under arms, and exert themselves vigour*
ousiy in dispersing the mob and securing the ring-Ieactxs,
und enforcing the execution of the civil authority, so as
that I may be sure of finding myself in a condition of sup-
porting his majesty's government in the town, arid obtaining
satisfaction for the indignities offtrtd it, and the rebellious
breaches of the peace* without my calling on the aid of the
country regiments, I will yet give them an opportunity of
retrieving their own honour and my good opinion of them.

132 HISTORY OP

the treaty of Aix la-Chapelle, which took place
about this time, rendered this and the other ex-
Yi |;<,ru»nce pedients of less value in the tstimation of the co-
ot the Six lonists. They imagined, and not without reason,.
tnat their own obvious interests as well as the na-
tional honour were sacrificed by some of the sti-
pulations of this treaty. The encroachments of
the enemy on the territory of the Five Nations,
the allies of the Knglish, and their project of
connecting the St. Laurence with the Mississippi,
were parsed over in silence, and a tacit right was
thereby acknowledged to these dangerous preten-
sions. But what was considered particularly by
the people of New England as the most repre-
hensible concession, was the surrender of Cape
Breton. This island was regarded as the price
oi colonial bravery, aid ii was thought unfeeling
and impolitic to barter away this first conspicuous
garland of American glory.

and preventing an infamous reproach upon the duty and loy-
al y of the town.

Ii is fit thut all grievances should be inquired into and re-
dressed, so far as it is in the power of this government to do
it : But I am sure the people have sufteied no grievance
from the government on this occasion.

1 am, sir, your mosi assured friend and servant,

W. SHIRLEY.

Some further particulars concerning the riot. On the 17th
of November, being the day on which the riot began, a
committee of the council and house of representatives was
appointed to inquire into the impress whkh had been made
of the inhabitants of the province, and the disorders conse-
quent thereon in the town of Boston, and on the 29th of
November, befoie that committee had made a report, the
house of representatives passed several resolves, and ap-
pointtd a committee who upon the same day waited upoft
the governor at Castle William, with a copy thereof.

VIRGINIA, 133

THE new assembly met agreeably to proro^n- CH\P.
tion on the third of November, and af ier the UMial l!
formalities, proceeded to an immediate inquiry New a*
into the question of a site for the new capitol. stmblv.
The last prorogation hud taken place with a view Nov 3-
to let the passions of the moment piss away, ar»d
perhaps in the hope of being able to influence
particular members by personal solicitations.
The governor, notwithstanding his former re-
serve, was now the avowed head of the party for
retaining the government at Williamsburg, and
in his communication he expressly wishes that
the public edifices should be erected on the old
foundations. A considerable change had taken
place in public opinion on this head. In the as-
sembly, immediately subsequent to the loss of
the capitol, there were but fifteen votes in favour
of the present site, and the spirited discussions
in the public journals were calculated to increase
this majority. The strong resolution manifested
by the last assembly on this head had caused its
dissolution, and it was supposed that the irrita-
tion produced by this measure would tend to
confirm the opposition to the present site, yet
contrary to all expectation, a decided majority
appeared against a removal. Nor can this be as-
cribed to any want of virtue or intelligence in
this body. By an inspection* it will be seen that

* The following: is a list of the burgesses elected for the se-
veral counties, to serve in the present general assembly, viz.

For AccomaC) Thomas Parramore, Edward Allen,
Albemarle) Joshua Fry, Charles Lynch,

Amelia, Thomas Tabb, Wood Jones,

John Wilson, John Maddison,

Sterling Clack, Drury

1541

HISTORY OF

CHAP. It contained some of the most respectable names
in Virginia.

Caroline, John B«ylor, Lunsford Lorn ax,

Charles City, Richard Kennon, Edward Broadnax,
Elizabeth City, William WestwooiJ, John Tabb,
JEsser, William Beverly, William Dangerfield,

Fairfax, Laurence Washington, Richard Osburne^

Frederick, George Fairfax, Gabriel Jones,

Gloucester, Beve.rley Whiting, Francis Willis,

Goochtand, George Cavinglon, Archibald Gary,

Hanover, W lliam Merhvether, John Chiswell?

Henrico, John Boiling, Richard Randolph,

James City, Carter Burvvell, Benjamin Waller,

Isle of Wight, John Simmons, Richard Gray,

King George, Charles Carter, Henry Turner,

King and Queen, John Robinson, George Braxton,

King William, Bernard Moore, Francis West,

Lancaster, Joseph Chinn, Peter Conway,

Louisa, Abraham Venable, Charles Barret,

Lunenburg, Clement ReacJe, Henry Embry,

Middlesex* Ralph Wormley, Philip Grymes,

Mmscmund, Lemuel Riddick, William Hunter,

JVew Kent, William Hickaday, William Massie,

Norfolk, Willis Wilson, William Portlock,

Northampton, Littleton Eyre, Matthew Harmanson,

Northumberland, Presley Thornton, Spencer Ball,

Orange, George Taylor, John Spotswood,

Princess Anne, Anthony Wilks, Jacob Elligood,

Prince George, Richard Bland, Francis Eppes,

Prince William, Thomas Harrison, Joseph Blackwell,

Richmond, William Fantleroy, John Woodbridge.

Sjlotsylvania, William Waller, Rice Custis,

Stafford* William Fitzburg, Peter Hedgeman,

Sumj, Robert Jones, Augustus Claiborne,

Warwick, William Harwood, Jol>n Langhorne,

Westmoreland, John Bush rod, George Lee,

York, Thomas Nelson (secretary), Ed. Diggs,

James Town, Philip Ludwell,

Williamsburg, The Attorney-general,

Norfolk Town, Robert Todd,

The College, Beverley Randolph.

VIRGINIA,

SEVERAL acts of an interesting nature were pas- CHAP.
sed daring this session. By one the grants in the **
Northern Neck were confirmed as they then stood.
Petersburg and Blandford were established as
towns, and the use of wooden chimnies was for-
bidden in them. Richmond had been established
during the preceding session : All precisely at the
puints marked out by colonel William Byrd in his
journal before alluded to. During the succeeding
assembly we discover the same new born fondness
for towns. Acts passed for building one in Au-
gusta in King William, near Warwick in Henri-
co, and at Hunting Creek Ware house in Fair-
fax. During this session also, a general revisal
of the laws was ordered, and Peyton Randolph,
Philip Ludwell, Beverley Whiting, Carter Bur-
wcil and Benjamin Waller were appointed a com-
mittee to superintend the revisal and prepare the
index. During this session too several grants of
land were made out in favour of adventurers on
tlit other side of the mountains. The houses in
Philadelphia at this time amounted to two thou-
sand and seventy-six, exclusive of Churches and
public buildings.

MEANWHILE the governor and his family be-
ing on die eve of a final departure from Virginia,
the president and council waited on him with an
address, dictaied by die sincerest respect for his Goveraor
public and private virtues, and the most unafFect-
txl regrets, added those of the whole colony, at
his departure ; they were followed by the college
municipality of Williamsburg. He had been
more than twenty two years governor of the co-
lony, and notwithstanding repeated differences
in opinion with the house of burgesses, not a
single expression of disrespect or incivility escap-
ed him in his various communications with that
body. As commander of the colonial forces oa

13S

HISTORY OF

His cha-
racter.

CHAP, a distant expedition, he is equally clear of offence
and imputation ; and when after the reduction of
Louisbure an important expedition is projected
against the French possessions, the Virginians
are called upon to enlist under a solemn assurance
that they shall be commanded by their favourite
Gooch.

HE appears by the stile of his communications
to have been a man of an excellent capacity. His
morality was recomended by the example of his
private virtues : But although sincere and in ge-
neral beneficial, it was tinctured by a slight
shade of intolerance, principally owing to the
prevailing apprehensions of popery, and the agi-
tation of party opinion in those times.

As the reward of his long and iaithful services
he was created a baronet. His family formed
connections in Virginia, and after his departure
he continued the warm and stedfast friend of the
colony. Nothing can better establish this fact than
his appointment as agent to present and enforce
the assembly's petition to the king for a reduc-
tion of the tax* on tobacco. He departed OR

* The following state of the tobacco trade was published
in the London Genera^ Advertiser, by an eminent Virginia
merchant, at a time that the ministry intended to have laid u
farthing a pound on all tobacco exported.

" In whatever light we take a view of the British tobacco
plantations, they merit a large sh;.re in the British legisla-
ture, and they have been treated accordingly whenever they
have obliged to have recourse to parliament.

" The general grovuh of tobacco for several years past is
computed to be 62 000 hhds. per annum, each hogshead
weighing about QOOlbs. net one with another.

" The consumption of tobacco in Great Britain is sup-
posed rather lo diminish than increase, especially if we do
lake not into consideration the quantity' of tobacco used ir*
siiiiii which is said to have increased considerably.

VIRGINIA. 13

;the 14th of August, 1749, amidst the blessings CHAP.

iind tears of the people, amongst whom he had L.

livtd as n wi^e and beneficent iaditr. *

The quanti y of tobacco computed to be exported to fo-«
.reign parts is said to be 50,000 hhds. comunibus annis,
winch pays no revenue to the c: own as tobacco, but with
regard to ihe balance of the trade w.th foreign nations, it
n a) be truly stated at upwards of 400,0001 per annum, be-
sides the -mplrymem of above 25 000 tons of British ship-
ping;; of which 400,0001. per annum, after paying the ne-
ctsbury charges of foreign insurance and bringing to market,
ti ere does not remain to the maker scarce .100,0001. per an-
num, the other 300,000 may not be called a duty but is a
tax on the maker of 300 per cent, which ihe planters in Eu-
rope have not to struggle with; and dur-ng the war is so
g eat a load on British tobacco as may be doubted whether it
can be supported without additional favours from the le^is*
lature.

" An additional duty of one fourth per Ib laid on the ex-
portation will take away near 50,000i. p; r annum from the n**
ker, who then would have only 50.0001. per annum for tMr
support; and this is a duty to them of cent, per ce<u. -and
whatever gi ;ss gentlemen may please to put on such y duty
this is the true f ct.

"Compare this with any other branch of the British trade
and see (the \\ooltn manufactory excepted) whai °*lef
branch is so extivmdy beneficial to Great Britain as ***"'.?*"
port tobacco trade is, with (repaid to th quanti!'^'
tish shipping, a nursery for sailors, the bulwark f. e
tion, and the addition to the nation every yea; J(
consumption of British manufactures. ,

« Though the Brius •. p'.an'aiion tobacco .;£'
, . , • r* r^a»n is chained

duty, yet what is consumed in Great !,,,

. r orin^s into the re-

wi h four^ence three far'hme;5 per Ib a'

venue in England 1500001 per annutherc af rea f

« It posnbly may be vfi^ft^^S* to' much
in the tob.;cco dut.es, and that thgm w;1| knQwn tQ be ^
less th^n it ought; it may be ^ ware.houain^ wij, not
Landing atier exportation, '

. Bowles of \hrvllul, who after
H,s son ma-r.eH M^arried to colond \\lham
was afterward u

HISTORY OF

THE government now devolved on Kobinsbrf,
the president of council, but he dying in a few
&749. days after this event, Thomas Lee as president
TlWas succeeded to the administration. The installa-
presi- tibn of this gentleman was announced in the usual
mode by a proclamation, in which all the ex-
isting officers were continued. It recited also

prevent any more than it has done with regard to the strict-
est regulations in regard to tea, &c.

** To supply the necessity of government, however" it
may be thought necessary to burthen ourselves with taxes,
yet it must be obvious to all impartial persons (especially
•where there are so many competitors in trade, not to en-
courage foreigners to vie, as it will grow in every climate)
especially in so desirable a branch as tobacco, and the laying
a duty on export tobacco will most certainly do it.

•« After being drove to the merest brink of j urn as the

\obacco trade was in queen Anne's war, the administration,

notwithstanding all its difficulties, found it necessary to rs-

litve and enc< urage tbis trade. Meaning the export of to-

bacvo by repaying the whole duty.

? growth of British plantation tobacco is, hhds. 62,000
Of vhich is exported, ...... ... 50,000

ve*

for Home consumption,

12,000

duty on exportation »s drawn back. The home
is charged with lour pence three farthings per

And brings

Tobacco ex\Per, annum» " ' ' '- Pounds, 150,000
h le per 19 coniPuted to produce in the

The necessary i. , r . .

rge ol treight, insurance, &c. is, 300,000

Leaves for 'he makv

Adutyoionefartlur^- ; - - " -100,000

•rib amounts1 to ... 50,000

There remain5 foythe ma». —

' only 50 000

Which is bu twenty shillings .

^'ithstandinf it mists eight poima ie P1anter» noN

tional slock ^er h»d. towards the na^

VIRGINIA.

t!re commission tp tk^tTuke of AJbemark as go- CHAP,
vernor in chief: It concluded by proroguing tie
Assembly to the last Thursday in the following
year.

THE measures of this administration were few
and unimportant. Surveyors were permitted to
measure and locate lands on the other side of the
mountains, provided they did not interfere w*th
the grants to the Ohio comparn . The^M^mbly
was farther prorogued to the " last Tnursday in
November, but before this meeting took place
the president died.

THE events of this adminstration excite no cu-
riosity respecting the character of this gentlemni
It is recorded by his cotemporaries, who still *ir-
\:ive, that his influence and connexions # En-
gland were sufficiently powerful to have procured
kirn the appoitament of deputy gwermy if he had
not been taken off so suddenly * He was suc-
ceeded by Lewis Burwellt of Gloucester county,
as president of council, whr prorogued the .as-
sembly to the first Thurs^V in Juiie.^ During
this administration nim Cherokee chiefs, with
thirty warriors, arriv^ ™ WiUiamsburg, for the
purpose as they p^ended, of opening a direct
trade with Vinnr*u. A deep and deadly hatred
Subsisted betwe^ this tribe and the Nottoways
qn account of murders alledged to have been
perpetrated b; the former, when in conjunction
with the ntoer Indians of the south, they hac
been in tie habit of making excursions on Vir*

* He was the father of Philip LwUel! Lee, Richard H.
Chomas L. Arthur, Francis, LightfootLee, and

» The father of Mrs. Petnr Whiting, Mr, Armstcad
ibot, and Mrs. Ambler, of Richmond'

140

HISTORY OF

Theatre
Unit.

Character
ot Gover-
nor,

ginia and North Carolina. A knowledge of the
unquenchable spirit of revenge, which burns-
without any abatement from time In the breasts
of this people, had given the president some un-
easiness lest the Nottoways, hearing of the arri-
val of this deputation, should approach the city
and make it the theatre of their vengeance. A
Vn jr short time evinci d that these fears were not
unfounded. Information was received that a
band oi Notiovvay wan iors, painted and prepared
fi.-r batrle were approaching, and the Cherokees
vert advised to .*.tand on their defence. Asto-
lusi.e-d at this information, they prepared for bat-
*V, and r-ii>tdthe war song: But the influence
pf 4u president prevented an encount r, by giv-
ing time k>r exphm tions. The Chen kees" aver-
red thaube\xr es^es complained of had been per-
petrated by a iVifit rent tribe, and the two nations
snoked. together the calumet of peace.

THIS incident Irishes a proof that the Indi-
ans of Virginia, ca^l tributciry Indians, enjoy-
ed their iormer not.o^ of independence, and
preserved their unconque^bie spirit and their ex-
ternal customs in cktianceo} tneir melancholy
reverse of fortune, and aliho^h surrounded by
the genius and power of the \vlite man.

LURING this administration the New York
company of comedians were permuted to buiiel a
thrali e in Willinmsbin, and

for the ele-

fancies as well as the more erudite pai*s oi litera-
ture shone out beneath the patronage aixl exam-
ple of the president. Nothing of' the character
of this gentleman, so far as I am acquainted, has
desccnde cl in aay authentic record to our times :
lint his surviving cotcniporaries represent him to
have been emintmly profound and polished as a
scholai and a gentleman. During his residence in
he had bteu comptiied to submit to the

VIRGINIA. Hi

operation of trepanning in consequence of a frac- CH "^P.
ture by a fail from his horse, and Was ever after oc- _
casionally subject to derangements, to which his
intense study in almost every branch of human
knowledge wrs thought to htve not i little contri-
buted, tiis last act was a farther prorogation of
the as-embl) to the first Thursday in March in the
foi lotting year.

BUT it was not in Virginia alone that the in- October 9,
fluence of literary improvement began to be fcir. 175 1.
In the neighbouring settlement of Pennsylvania Luei -T
the progress of inventive wisdom kept pace with I"^',^
any thing that is recorded of the mobt polished tUe colonies
age or nation in a given time. So early as t!;c
rear 17^0 a newspaper lud been established ii
.Philadelphia, and after a short interval a seen .u
was set en foot. Thenceforward improvements
in political economy rapidly developed them-
selves, by the procreative genius of Franklin, at
once the humblest and most exalted of hum in k
and the spark of colonial. patriotism was fanned
into a flame by his terse and 5 )i"i:e.l discussions.

FHOM these familiar but useful topics he rose
all at once above the horizon in the brightness of
a primal planet. The science of electricity had
been little more than a collection of independent
facts, badly connected and worse understood.
Their uses or application had not been so much
as conjectured : But the results of the succesful
experiments excited the curiosity of philosophers,
and amongst the rest, of the young Penr.svha-
nian. Some observations on the late ex,
ments, communicated to the library company .-if
Philadelphia by a Mr. Coilinson, first attracted
his attention to this subject. After having as-
certained the power of points in drawing and
throwing o*F the electrical matter, which hal
escaped the notice of ills predecessors, he effect-

142 HISTORY OF

CHAP, ed his grand discovery of a plus and a minu$
____• _ state of electricity.

By deductions from this, he explained in a sa-
tisfactory manner the .phenomena of the Ley den
phial, which had hitherto eluded the sagacity of
electricians. He afterwards demonstrated that
the electricity did not reside .in the coating, as
had been imagined, but in the pores of the glass
itself.*

HE next suggested his idea of explaining the
.phenomena of thunder gusts and of the aurora bo-
realis, upon electrical principles, and he conceived
the sublime idea of drawing down the forked
lightning from the clouds. But there is no end
to an enumeration of his virtues and literary at-
chievements : Suffice it to say, that his name in.
the course of this history will be found associated
with the prosperity and glories of his country.

COTEMPORARY with him and long united in
habits of familiar and friendly intercourse, lived
the self taught mathematician Godfrey, the real
inventor of the quadrant denominated Hartley's.
The ingenious and learned Logan of Pennsylva-
nia has collected the evidence on this head, and
it must be pronounced irresistible, f The story
of this ingenious man, thus cheated of his fame,
suggests the fate of the great Columbus, suffering
a like injustice from the ingratitude or neglect of
posterity. In Boston a press had been establish-
ed earlier than in the other provinces. In Vir-
ginia until 1736 there was no newspaper, and it
was the only one in the colony for many years.
Project of BEFORE I close this period it may not be amiss
sir William to ta^e some notice of an extraordinary project of
Keith. sir William Keith for raising a revenue within

Franklin's Life. t Miller's Retrospect,

VIRGINIA, US

'be colonies by act of parliament. The original CHAP.
MSS. is in my hands, bearing- date November,
l<28, l)etter than one year after Keith had been
superseded in his government by major Gordon.
This paper is important as being the earliest evi-
dence on record, of an avowed project for raising
to internal revenue in the colonies by an act of
[he British legislature. The apparent motive of
the projector was to provide a regular force against
the incursions of the Indians and tire intrigues of
France, instead of depending on the precarious
and inadequate supplies of the colonial legisla-
tures. The more immediate and particular oc-
casion was the indisposition constantly manifest-
ed by the Quakers, who formed a majority of the
Pennsylvania legislation, to war on any account,
even of a defensive nature.

JUDGING from the character drawn by Benja-
min Franklin for this projector, as well us the te-
nor of the instrument in question, there is reason
to believe that he was in a great measure influ-
enced by motives of personal ambition. Thi*
project, which is given at length, discovers
considerable knowledge of the American tnxle,
and it is drawn up with no small art and judg-
ment. But the sagacious minister to whose
consideration it was recommended by the com-
missioners of trade, easily detected the fallacy of
its reasoning ; and however insensible he might
have been to he suggestions of honour and mo-
rality, he declared himself deficient in the hardi-
hood necessary for carrying into execution a pro-
ject at once so full oi danger and so pernicious to
commerce.

144 HISTORY OF

Copy of sir William Keith's scheme, presented to
the king of Great Britain, November. 1728,
and i cj erred in council to tlie lords commissioners
of trade.

« TO THE KING'S MOST EXCELLENT MAJESTY:

" May it please your Majesty,

" SINCE the observations contained in the
following discourse, were occasionally made in
your majesty's and your royal father's service
abroad, during the space of twelve years; f
most humbly beg leave to lay them at your royal
feet, as a natural effect of the purest loyalty to
your sacixd person, and the only means which is
left in my power to serve the public, and to de-
monstrate that I am,

" May it please your Majesty,

" Your Majesty's"
" Most humble, most fathful and
" Most obedient subject,

W. KEITH.

A SKORT DISCOURSE ON THE PRESENT STATE
it

ti

SPECT TO GREAT BRITAIN.

" HAPPY are the people whose lot it is to be
governed by a prince who does not wholly de-
pend upon the representations of others, but
makes it a chief part of his delight to inspect the
condition of his subjects, according to their se-
veral ranks and degrees ; who, from the clearness
of his own mind, distinguishes the true merit of
his servants, leaving the liberties and properties

VIRGINIA.

of His people to be equally guarded and justly de-
fended by a punctual execution of the laws.

" THE unbounded extent of knowledge, to be
clailv acquired by the judicious inquiry and ap-
plication of such a prince will soon abolish the
use of flattery, and the pernicious effects of all de-
signed misrepresentation. The paths of virtue
arid honour, with a strict adherence to truth, will
be the only avenues of access to the sovereign's
esteem ; and the royal favour in such a reign,
will ever be agreeably dispensed, in proportion
to the useful conduct and true merit of the parly.

" So great an example from the throne will
doubtless inspire every honest bi east with a better
share of public spirit - men's thoughts will not
then be so intent on what they can get for them*
selves, as on what they can do for their country.
And as for such parts of the prince's prerogative
and executive power, as necessarily must be in-
trusted with ministers, they will ever be thought
an lid vantage and security to a nation ; while the
conduct of the ministry principally shines in the
support of liberty, which cannot fail to gain the
hearts and affections of a free people.

"• WHEN, either by conquest or increase of
people, foreign provinces are possessed, and co-
lonies planted abroad, it is convenient and often
necessary to substitute little dependent provincial
governments, whose people, by being franchisee!
and made partakers of the liberties and privileges
belorkgingto the original mother state, are jus:ly
bound by its laws ; and become subservient to its
interests, as the true end of their incorporation.

•' EvE.iY act of a dependent provincial go-
vernment ought therefore to teiminate in the ad-
vantage of the mother state, u to whom it owes
itis being, and by whom it is protected ui ail i**
T

4(5 HISTORY CfF

CHAP, valuable privileges. Hence it follows, that all ad?
*I vantagecus projects or commercial gains, in any
colon) , which art truly prejudicial to and incon-
sistent with the interest of the mother state, must1
be understood to be illegal, and the practice thereof
unwarrantable: because they contradict the end for
vhich the colony had a being, and are incompa-
tible with the terms on which the people claim
both privileges and protection.

" \\ERE these things rightly understood
amongst the inhabitants of the British colonies in
America, there would be less occasion tor such in-
structions and strict prohibitions as are daily sent
from England to regulate their conduct in many
points. The very nature ot the thing would be
sufficient to direct their choice, in cultivating
such parts of industry and commerce only, as
vould bring some advantage to the interest and
trade of Great Britain : They would soon find
b} experience that this was the solid and true
foundation, \\ hereon to build a real interest in the- it
n other country, and the certain means to acquire;
riches \\ithoutenvy.

'*ON the other hand, where the government
of a provincial colony is well regulated and all its
business and con. me ice truly adapted to the pro-
per end and design ot the first seulement — such
a province, like a choic^ branch springing from
the main root, ought to be careful!) nourished,
aiid its just interest well guarded. No little, par*
tiai project, or party gam, should be suffered to
afkct ii : But rather it ought to be considered
and \\eighed in the general balance of the \\hole
state, as an useful and profitable member; for
such is the end of all colonies, and if this use
cai»r-ot be made of them, it vvoulet be better i#r
the state, to be \\ ithotit them.

VIRGINIA.

cf IT has ever been the maxim of all polished na-
to regulate their government to the best ad van-
tage of their trading interest ; whence it may be
helpful to take a short view of the principal benefits
ari.-jii.g to Great Britain from the trade of the co-
lonies.

4< 1. THE colonies take off and consume above
one sixth part of the woollen manufactures t x-
p or ted from Great Britain ; which is the chief
staple of England, and the main support of the
landed interest.

kl 2. THEY. take off and consume more ihan dou-
ble that value in linen and cal.'icoes, which arp
partly the product of Britain and Ireland, and partly
the profitable returns made for that product when
parried to foreign countries.

" 3. THE luxury of the colonies, which in-
creases daily, consumes great quantities oi hn-
glish manufactured silks, haberdashery, house-
hold furniture and trinkets of all sorts ; us also a
ver\ considerable value in East India goods.

" 4. A great revenue is raised to the crown of
Britain by returns made in the produce of tr.e
plantations, especially tobacco; which, at the
same time helps England to bring nearer to a ba-
lance her in profitable tnide with France.

tk 5. THESE colonies promote the interest and
trade of Britain, by a vast increase of shipping,
and seamen, which enables them to earn gveyt
quantities of fish to Spain, For meal, Leghorn,
-&c. ; furs logwood arc -rice to Holland, where
they keep Great Britain considoabi} in the ba-
lai.ce of trade \\ith those countries.

" 6. IF reasonably encouraged, the colonies
are now in a condition to furnish Britain uith as
much of the following commodities as it can de-
mand, viz. Masting for the iiav} and all sons of
kiiibtr, hemp, fiax, pitch, tai, oil,

48 HISTORY OP

CHAP, per ore, vnth pig and bar iron ; by means where*
iL oi tlie balance of trade to Russia and the Baltic
"may be vtry much reduced in favour of Great
Lritain.

kfc 7. THE profits arising to all those colonies by-
trade, are returned in bullion, or other useful ef-
fects, to Great Briiain; where the supeifluous
cash, and other riches, acquired in America^
must centre ; which is not one of the least secu-
rities that B< itain has, to keep tne colonies always
iii due subjection.*

*' 8. THE colonies upon the -main are thq
'granary of America, and a necessary support ta
tht sugar plantations in the West Indies, which
could hot subsist wi hout them.

" BY this short view of the trade in general, we
"may plainly understand that these colonies may
be vei} beneficially employed both for Great Bri-
tain and tlum.stivis. without int< rfering vvuh
any ol the staple manufactures of England. And
considering the bulk and end of the whole traf-
fic, 'twere pity that any material branch of it
should bt depressed, on account of the private
and particular interests, \\hich in comparison
\vith these, cannot justly be esteemed a national
concern; ior if the trade of the colonies be to
the advantage of Britain, there is nothing more
certain than that the discouragement of any sub-
stantial branch, lor the sake of any company or

el

** Note. If this maxim was true in 1728, ought not we,
of the piesent generation, seriously to consider what will
lx the probable consequences ot our trading with Britain for
mucks ol luxury and extravagance. A commerce, \vl.ich
rmi only luins the balance oi trade against us, and drains us
ol our circulating cash, but also keeps m> consunuy and1
gnacbicu to Her?

VIRGINIA. 149

private Interest, would be a loss to the nation. CH\P.
tut, hi order to set this point yet in a clearer _.J
light, we will proceed to consider some of the
most obvious regulations in the Amencaa trade,
far rendering the colonies truly serviceable to
•Great Britain.

" 1. THAT all the product of the colonies, for
which the manufactures and trade of Britain have
-a constant demand, be enumerated amongst the
-goods uhich b\ the law must be first transport-
ed to Britain before they -can be carried to any
other market.

*4 -2. THAT even* valuable merchandize, fotrvl
in the English colonies, and rarely any where
•else, and for which there is a constant demand
in Europe, shall also be enumerated, in order to
assist Great B itain in the balance of trade with
other countries.

44 3. THAT all kinds of woolen manufactures,
for which die colonies have a demand, shall con-
tinue to be brought from Brrain only, and linen
from Grtat Britain and Ireland.

44 '4. ALL other kind of European commodities
to bt carried to the colonies, (salt ex-jepied) en-
try- thrreof first to be made in Bi itain, before iiuy
can be transported to any of the English col >r.ics.
41 5. THE colonies to be absolutely restrained,
in their several governments, from laying any
manner ot duties on shipping or trade iiom Eu-
rope, or upon European goods ti ansporteci iruiii
one colony to another.

44 6. THAT the acts of parliament relating to
the trade and government of the colonies be re-
vised, and collected into one distinct body of
-laws, for the use of the plantations and of such as
-trade with them.

14 SUPPOSING these things to be done, it will
'evidently ioiiow that the more extensive the traue

15* HISTORY OF ]

of the colonies is, the greater will be the advan-
tage accruing to Britain therefrom ; and, conse-
quently, that the enlargement of the colonies, and
the increase of their "people, would still be an
addition to the national strength. All smaller im-
provements, therefore, pretended and set up top
private gain by the lesser societies, in Cireat Bri-
tain or elsewhere, although they might have i
just pretence to bring some sort of public bcne'lt
along with them; yet if they shall appear to DC
hurtful to the much greater and more national con-
cern of the trading useful colonies, they ought in
justice to the public to be neglected in favour of
them. It being an unalterable maxim, that a les>er
public good must give place to a greaser ; and
that it is of more moment to maintain a greater
than a lesser number of subjects well employee}
to the advantage of any state.

%< FROM what has been said of the nature of
colonies, and the restrictions which ought to be
laid on their trade, it is plain that none of the En-
glish plantations in America can, with an) rea-
son or good sense, pretend to claim an absolute
legislative power within themsevles : So that, let
their several constitutions be founded on ancient
charters, royal patents, custom by preemption, or
what other legal authority you please, yet still
they cannot be possessed of any rightful capacity
to contradict or evade the true intent or force of
any act of parliament, wherewith the wisdom of
Great Britain may think fit to affect them, from
time to time: And in discoursing on their legis-
lative powers (improperly so called in a depend-
ent government) we are to consider them only as
so many corporations, at a distance, invested
\vith ability to make temporary bye laws for
themselves, agreeable to their respective situa-
tious and climates, but no ways interfering

VIRGINIA, 151

leeral prerogative of the crown, or the true te-
giMiuvv •)•> ver of tliv? 11 >;her state.
IF the- governors and general assemblies of the se-
ooionies would be pleased to consider them-
selves in this ligh , o ic woul I think it \vas impossi-
ble trR-y could be so weak as to fancy that they re-
presented the king;, lords and Commons of Great
Britain, within their little districts. And indeed
the useless, or rnther hurtful and inconsistent
constitution, of a negative council in all the king's
provincial governments, contributed, as it is be-
lieved, to lead them into this mistake: tor, so
lo g as the king has reserved to himself in his privy
council, the con: ideratiun of, and negative upon,
a;i their laws ; the method of appointing a few of
the richest and proudest men in a small colony,
as an upper house, with a negative on the pro-
ceedings of the king's lieutenant governor, and the
people's representatives, seems not only to cramp
the natural liberty of the subject there, but also
the king'-- just power and prerogative: For it of-
ten hap[>ens th.it very reasonable and good bills.,
sometimes proposed for the benefit of the crown
b\ the wisdom of a good governor, and at other
tunes offered by the people's representatives, in.
bi half of their constituents, have been lost, and the
of su %h m tele impracticable, by the ob-
of a majority i,i the council; only be-
cause such things did not square wkh their pri-
vate particular interest and gain, or with the
views which they form to themselves, by assum-
ing an imagin.-rv dignity and r;ink above all the
rest of i he kingS subjects. And as to the security,
which it is pretended that either the crown or pro-
prietary ma\ have by s teh a negative council, it is
i;t quitt otherwise; for that caution \vouldbe
imicii better secured ii this council was only a
council oi suite to acivibe with the goveuioi, and

HISTORY OF

be constant witnesses of all public transactions- 3
and it cannot be thought that an officer who is not
only under oaths and bonds, but answerable by
law for his misdeeds, and removable at pleasure,
would, in the face of witnesses so appointed,
contradict a rational advice, thereby subjecting
himself to grievous penalties and losses : Nei-
ther is it to be supposed that these men, if they
had only the privilege of advising, would oppose
such good bills or other reasonable propositions,
as they well knew they had no legal power to re-
ject. But while they find themselves possessed
ot a pei tmptory negative, without being in any
sort accountable for their opinions, it is easy to
imagine how such a power may be used on many
occasions to serve their private interests and
views in trade, as well as to indulge the too na-
tural propensity which mankind have, especially
abroad, to rule over and oppress their poor neigh-
bours. Besides, an artful, corrupt governor will
find means by preferments, &c. so to influence, a
negative council, that knowing themselves to be
under no bonds, or any other valuable penalty to
answer the party aggrieved b} their opinions, they
may without risk proceed in such manner as to
screen the governor in mauy things which other-
wise he would be personally and singly bound to
account for in a legal and just way.

IF then a council of state, only to advise with
the governor, shall appear (in all emergencies and
cases that can be proposed) to be equally useful,
and not attended with the inc n istences, ob-
structions and disadvantages of a negative coun-
cil ; the one seems to be much preferable to the
other, and more agreeable to that liberty and just
equality which is established by the common law
amongst Englishmen, and consequently less pro-

VIRGINIA. 153

dnctive of those grievances and compl >ints which CH \p.
have been so frequent hitherto from the planta- ' ^ ui__.
lions.

" A T first view it will appear natural enough for
an Englishman, who has tasttd the sweetness of
that freedom which is ei joyed u:-der the happy
constitution of king, lords and commons of Great
Britain, to imagine that a third part should be
formed in the little governments of the planta-
tions, in imitation of the house of lords;
but if we might rightly consider" it, that part of
the constitution is alrt-ady most pro; erly and fully
supplied by the lords of his nvjes y's privy
council : Jjcsic'es, let us suppose, that instead of
an house of lords in Britain, a like number of
select commoners were invested with a power to
set apart, and to put a negative upon the pro-
ceedings of the house of commons, consist! ng1
of three times the number of persons of equal
rank, and representing all the commons of Great
Britain in parliament, the inconsistency and un-
reasonableness of the tin- g does prtsen ly ob-
trude itself upon our minds; and yet, su<:h is
the very case of that negative, which is now
practiced b} the councils in ,*m<-rica.

NEXT to the Iegi>lat've po^er. we shall pro-
ceed to consider th» civsl jurisdr tion in the plan ~

,.,,,. . , On the civil

tations, which b} their ov n ans is branched out

into so ma-iy different forms, almost in each co
Icny, thi.t it is scarcely pracricable to reduce them
under such heads, in any one di*oou;se, as to
make it intelligible to those who are altogether
unacquainted with American affairs.

" IT is generally acknowlegd in the plantations
that the subject is entitled by birth ri^hr u .'o fhe
benefit of the common law of England; but
U

S4i HISTORY OF „

CTTAP. as fhe common law has been altered from time t&
timt, and restricted by statutes, it is still a ques-
tion in many of the American courts of judica-'
ture, whether any of the English statutes, which
do not particularly mention the plantations, can?
be of foice there until they be brought over, by
some act of assembly in that colony whe.it they
are pleaded ; and this creates such con fusion, that
according to the art or influence of the lawyers ••
and attoVmcs before the judges, who by their
education are but indifferently qualified for that
service, they sometimes allow the iorce of the
particular statutes, and at other times reject the
Whole, cpeciaily if the bench is inclinable to be
partial, which too frequently happens in these
new and unset ltd countries; and as men's liber,
ties and proper? its in any a- in try depend chiefly
en an impartial and equal administration, of jus-
tice, this is one of the most material grievances
which the subjects of America have just cause to
complain of; but while for the want of schools
and otrur proper in struct ioi> in the principles of
moral virtue, their people are not so uell quali-
fied even to serve on juries, and much less toa/:t
on a bench of judicature, it seems impracticable
to provide a remedy until a sufficient revenue be
found out amongst them, lo support the charge of
sending judges from England, to take their circuits
by turns in the several colonies on the main, which
if it is thought worthy of consideration, will ap-
pe^r neither to be improper nor impracticable,
and unril that can be done, all other attempts to
rectify their courts of law will be fruitless and
in ay be suspended.

" COURTS of chancery which are known to be
accessary in. many cases to correct the severity of
the common kw^ j»eem to subsist there on a most

VIRGINIA;

precarious footing; for it does not appear that CHAP.
tntre is a proper and legal authority to hold such _
a court in any of 'he colonies; nevertheless, by "
custom every where some kind of chancery -is
to be found in one form or other; so that when a
rich man designs to coutest am thir.gdn dispu'.e
with nis poor neighbour, if he can contrive ta
bring into cha icery he is sure the matter will
rarely or never be brought to issue; which on
many occasions proves an iirolerable oppression ;
\vherefore, it is hoped that so high a jurisdiction,
issuing immediately from the crown, will in due
time be put on a more regular and certain esta-
blishment.

tk A -MILITIA in an arbitrary and tyrannical On the mi-
governuient may possibly be of some service to
the governing power, but we learn from experi-
ence that in a free country it is of little use : The
people in the plantations are so lew in proportion
to the lands they possess, that servants bting
scarce and slaves excessively dear, the men a e
generally under a necessity there to \vork hard
the .n selves in order to provide the common
necessaries of life for their families; so that they
cannot spare a day's time without great lovs to
their interest; wherefore, a militia th-re would
become more burthensome to the pooi people
than it can be in any part of Europe; ton , be-
sides, it may be questioned how far it would
consist with good p b y to accustom all the u le
men in the colonies to be AV 11 exercised in arms,
it seems at present to be more advisable to ktep
up a small, regular standing force in ea -h pro-
vince, which might be readily augmented for a
time, if occasion did require, and thus, in case
©f war or rebellion, the whole of the rrfTM».;r
droops might JDe without luoo of time uuucd or

56 HISTORY OF

CHAP. d'srrihuted at pleasure, ai.d if, as ha? been said
beioic, a suitable revenue abroad can be raised
lor the defence and support of the plantations, it
would be- no diffi< ult matter both to form and ex.-
icine a proper scheme of this nature.

<l LAXD is so plenty and to be had so very
cheap in America, that there is no such thing as
a tenant to he found in that country, tor every
man is a 1 mdiord in fee of what he possesses, a- d
only pays a small quit or ground rent to the lord
of the soil ; and this makes it impracticable to
ii.:d an assembly of such f eeholders in any of
the colonies, who will consent to lay any tax up-
on Lnds, nor indeed is it to be expected they
should voluntarily agree to raise any revenue
amongst themselves, except what is alx Knely
ru a SSITV ior erecting court houses, bridges,

I ,,j.h \\:;ys and other needful expenses of their ci-
vil gcveinmeiit, which is con-inoiily levied upon
stock, an excise on foreign liquors retailed, or a
small poll tux, and the public there is generally
ii dtibt, because the-} are extremely jealous <;f
ai'cnipts upon their liberties; mid apprehensive.

II 1 1 if lit L'.n} time the public irt^^un vvais lich it
rright prrvc too great a temptation for an artiul
i.< vcrr.or, in conjunction with their own repre-
sentative's, to divide- the spoil and betiay them.

ik IT must beailoued that a share e)i personal
ii'tertbt, or si-if lv-ve, i;. flue-nets, in soihe eiegiee,
every m;.n ; aftlciiexn gives a natural impulse to
all our actions, and ihough this is most percepti-
ble in trade or commercial affairs, }et there is
not any other transaction in tile that passes with-
out it; and as it is with men in this ca^e, so we
find it has ever been with all states or bodies po-
litic, so long as they au cl< j:( ndent ore upon anq-
die wisdom oi the, ciovvii oi bauuii, there-

VIRGINIA. 157

re, by keeping its colonies in that s^u^on. is CHAP.
v< »y much to be applauded; while they continue ____ UL. _^
so it is morally impossible that any dangerous
UP. ion can be formed amongst them, because
their interest in trade and all manner of business
being entirely separated by their independency,
e\vry advantage that i^ lost or neglected by o .e
colony, is immediately picked up 'oy another ; :' 1
the emulation that continually subsists betw i
tl :em in a'l manner of intercourse and tr iiii ;, i--> r
productive of envies, jealousies and cares how to
£ -in upon each other's conduct in government or
trade, every onetherebx endeavouring to mag iify
their pretensions to the favour ot ihe cn> vn, >y
becoming mo. e useful than their neighbours to
the interest oi Great Britain. But to render the
colonies still more considerable to. Britain, aid°nrflpma-
the management of their affairs much moie eas\ "j1^ ncnt
to die king and his ministers at home, it would °,orSVf]rVrs
be convenient to appoint particular officers in in England.
England, oisly ior dispatch of business belong-
ing to tte plantations, for often persons tiiat co;ii^
irom America on purpose either to complain or to
support their own just- rights, are at a kns how or
whereto apply ; this uncertainty does not only fa-
tigue the ministers, but frequenth terminates in
destruction of the part}, by his being reie
iiom office to office, until! both his mov
patience be wore out; such things in time may
L AJ[ people's afiections, and give them too meai
an opinion of the justice of their mother country,
•uinch ought caiefully to be prevented, fjr where
tuere is liberty the inhabitants will certainly < >;-
pcct right, and still have an eye towards ouia..
ii one way or other.

"IT ma} be considered , therefore, how fur it
LK bcrviucoUiC lo put ua tac ci'uvvii'a oiv J.

158 HISTORY OF

CHAP. . etfircr*; fa the plantations, of what kind soever,
..L' under the direction of the board of trade, trr-m,
" whom they might receive their several depura-
tions or appointments, and to whom they ouprht
to be accountable both for their receipts and ma-
nagement, and if a particular secretary was ap-
pointed for the plantation affairs only, or ii the
first lord commissioner of that board was permit-
ted to have daily access to the king, in order to
receive his rrajesty's coirmai ds in all bv.vi-
nesses relating to the plantations, the subject's
application would be reduced into so narrow a
compass, and the board of trade would always
be so perfectly acquainted with the king's plea-
sure, that great dispatch might be given, even to
those distant matters, without taking up too
much of the ministry's time, and interfering
with other (perhaps) more important business ;
the people of the colonies would be pleastfl to
find themselves thus equally regarded without
tiving one any undue preference to another, and
all the rents, revenues, and other profits in any
manner arising from the plantations would then
centre in one place, where another proper mem-
Ixr of the same board might be appointed trea-
surer of that particular revenue, to answer all
such orders as should be issued from time to
time, for the plantation service, and as the re-
venue from America would in all probability be
increased daily, it may reasonably be expected
that the expense of paying the board of trade,
and other officers wholly employed in the planta-
tion affairs, which is now borne by the civil list,
\\ould then more proper!) arise and be discharged
out of the American fund, the overplus remain-
ing would in time become a most useful stock
lor .purchasing oi the proprietary lands, erecting

VIRGINIA. I5§

forts, and extending the present settlement^ as CH\p.
far as the great lakes, or might he applied to such .. n „
other uses as his majesty should think proper for
that service.

" ALL that has been said in respect of the im-
provement of the plantations <vill, it is supposed, of a revs,
signify very little unless a sufficient revenue can nue tn
be raised to support the needful expense, in or- A.uerica,
der to which it is humbly submitted, whether the
duties of stamps upon parchment and paper in En-
gland, may not with good reason be extended by
act of parliament to all the American plantations.

*' WHEN we do but cast an eye upon the vast
tracts of land, and immtiibe riches, which the Conclusion
Spanish nation have, in little more than one cen-
turv, very oddly acquired in America, insomuch
that the simple privilege of trading with them,
on very high terms too, is become a prize worth
contending for, amongst the greatest powers in
K ii rope ; surely we must on due reflection ac-
knowledge that the preservation and enlargement;
of the English settlements in those parts, is of
the last consequence to the trade, interest and
strength of Great Britain : And moreover, con-
siderinp; how that the last resort of justice in
the plantations is solely lodged in the k in grs -sa-
cred person ; with the advisement of his majes-
ty's privy council, exclusive of \Vestminster-
hiill or any other judicature, the brightening that
jewt-1 in the crown may not, perhaps, bethought
unworthy of the present happy reign, to which
the improvement and future security of so large a
]> rt of the British dominions, the advancement
of trade, and universally supporting the glorious
cause of liberty, sterns to be reserved by the pe*
euliar hand of providence."

160 HISTORY OF

TJr MUTELY connected with this project is the
proclamation* of governor Dimiiddie, reciting
a resolution of the parliament of England, re-
specting some proceedings oi the assembly of the
of Jamaica. Nothing tends more forcibly

* Virginia^ ss.

FY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE ROBERT DINWIDDIE,

Licuttnant-gwernor, and commander in chief of the $ai&
colony and dominion.

"WHEREAS T have received from the right honourable
tlit; lords commissioners for trade and plantations, a copy
of the1 resolution of the house of commons of the 23d of
>•. y 1757, upon certain resolutions of the assembly of the
island oi JuiMtioa, on the 29th of October, 1753, to the
emi that his majesty's subjects in this colony maybe fully
appiized of tht sense of that house upon such extraordinary
clam s; I have, therefore, thought fit by and with the ad-
vice of his rrpjtsty's council, to cause the same to be pub-
lished in the Gazette, a true copy v hereof is as follows, viz.

The order of the day being; read for receiving the report
ft m ihe coairriUee of the whole house, to whom it was re-
ferred to consider further of the several pnpers which were
presented to the hf.u?e upon the 18th and 24th days of Fe-
bmary, and the 1 7th day of March, in the last session of
p rliamcnt, i dating to the then governor, council, and assem-
bly 'i» Jamaica, and of the other papers referred to the said
committee. Mr. Thomas Gore accordingly reported fro!n
the said committee, the resolutions which the committee had
div* f-rtd him to report to the house, which he read in his
1 ! .< f, and afterwards delivered in at the table, where the
saif1 were again read and are as followeth, viz.

Evolved, that it is the opinion of this committee, that
the resolution of the assembly of the island of Jamaica,
contained in the minutes of the said assembly of the 29th.
<lay of October, 1753, in the wf.-rds following, viz. Resolved,
that it is the inherent and undoubted right of the represent-
ahves of the people to raise and apply monies for the ser-
vice, s and exigencies of government, and to appoint such,
person or persons for the receiving and bsuing thereof, as

VIRGINIA; 161

to prove the extreme jealousy of her colonies, CHAP.
entertained by the mother country than this paper,
and that, although die plan ol Keith was not act-
ed on, she was resolved to discountenance any

they shall think proper; which rights this hmse hath ex-
erted, and 4 ill always exert in such manner as they shall judge
most conducive to the service of his majesty and the interest
of his people ; so far as the same imports a claim of right
in i he said assembly to raise and apply public money with-
out the consent of the governor and council, is illegal, un-
constitutional, and derogatory of the rights of the crown
at id people of Great Britain.

Rt solved, that in the opinion of this committee, that the
six last resolutions of the assembly of Jamaica, of the 29th
ot October, 1753, proceed upon a manifest m:-sapp«ehe -s-.on,
of his majes-y's instructions to his governor, requiring him
no to give his assent to any bill of an unusual and extraordi-
nary nature and importance, wherein his majesty's preroga-
tive, or property of his subjects may be prejudiced, or the
trade or shipping of this kingdom be anywise affected, un-
less there be a clause inserted suspending the execution of
such bill until his majesty's pleasure be known, and that
such instruction is just and necessary, and no alteration of
the constitution of that island, nor any way derogatory to
the rights of his subjects ther«.

The first resolution of the committee being read a second
time, was, with an amendment thereto, agreed to by the
house, and is a-, folioweth, via

Resolved, that the resolution of the assembly of the
island of Jamaica, contained in the minutes of the said as-
sembly of the 29th day of October, 1753, iu the words fol-
lowing, vz. Resolved, that it is the inherent and undoubted
right of the representative* of the people, to raise and
apply monies for the exigencies of government, and to ap-
point such person or persons for the receiving and issuing
thereof, as they shall think proper, which right this house
hath always exerted, and will always exert in such manner
as they shall judge most conducive to the service of his ma-
jesty and the interests of the people, so far as the sanr.e im-
ports a claim of righ in the said assembly to raise and ap-
ply public uionc), without the consent of the governor and
VV

f>* HISTORY OF

CHAP* thing like a strong assertion of rights in the colo>
. niiils. Dinwiddie, vvho arrived in Virginia in
1752, was speciall} charged to lay the Jamaica
resolutions, accompanied by those of the British
parliament, before the assembly, for the purpose
of deterring them from any similar pretensions,
which would only have a tendency to excite the
resentment of the national legislature.

1 HAVE at length brought to a close an <era in
history barren in incident, but the night is passing
off, and the dawn of the American morning faintly
ai pears in the horizon. If 1 should fail adequately
to describe its mild radiance or the blaze of its
meridian glory, it will yet be impossible by any
defect of mine, wholly to shroud them from the
admiration of the world.

council, is illegal, repugnant to the terms of his majesty's
con -missions to his governor of the said island, and deroga-
tory to the crown and the rights of the people of Great Bri-
tain.

The second resolution of the commi tee 1 eing read a se-
cond time, an amendment was made thereunto by the house.

The house was movtd that the entries in the journal of
the house of the 21st and 23d days of December, 1678, of
the proceeding of the house in relation to the bill for grant-
ii-g a supply to his majesty for paying off and disbanding
the forces, may be read thus.

And the same were read accordingly.

Then the said resolution so amended was agreed to by the
house, and is as follow* th, viz.

Resolved, that the claim in the said resolution of a right
-in the assv mbly to appoint such person or persoi>* for the re-
ceiving and issuing ot public nv ney as the said assen bly
shall think proper, is illegal, repugnant to the terms of his
majesty's commissions to his governor of the said inland,
and derogatory to the rights of thecroxvnof Great Britain.

The last resolution of the committee being lead a second
time, was agreed to by the fcousc,

CHAPTER III.

Daivn of Amet ican genius. Confederacy of the
American colonies against France. — Examina-
tion of the causes which led to this event. — Past
disproportion between English and Fnnch power
in America. — Reasons of the temporary ascend-
ance of France — Ohio company. — Encroach-
ment on their territory. Governor Dimviddie
rtsofoes to remonstrate — Selects George Wash-
ington to bear his message to the French com-
mandant on the Ohio. — The dangers and difficul-
ties of this mission. — He delivers the message,
and receives a polite denial. — The assembly make
provision for expelling the Intruders. — A regi-
ment is raised. -~ Governor of Canada issues or-
ders 10 act offensively. — Logs town sw prized. —
Jl^ons. Contreceur issues from the port of Ve-
nango with jQO canoes — Surprizts the Ameri-
can Jort at the confluence of the Ohio and fifo-
nongahela -—Affair at Little Meadows — Death,
oj Jumonville. — Capture oj the French detach-
ment — Junction effected between the different
detachments at Great Meadows • — Information
is received that a large body of French is ap-
proaching — Distress and danger of the Virgi-
nians.— Retutn to Fort Necessity — Are attacked
by the French and Indians, -who are repuL ed — >
They sut render on favour able terms — Ate haras-
sed by the Indians after capitulation — Reach

- -hmchester in safety. — Stobo and Fan Braam

164

CHAP. the hostages — T/;eir extraordinary adventures.
— La Force. Liberal conduct of assembly to
the Virginia troops. — Governor D'nnmddie is-
sues orders that they should agnin cross ihe Al-
legheny.— Washington remonstrates in vain
against this order. — Assembly rcjuse to appro-
priate funds /or the completion of the regiment
and independent companies. — Governors disap-
pointment and mortification. Virginia regiment
reduced to independent companies. Regulations
respecting rank introduce d by ttrnish govci rum nt.
Washington resigns. General Braddock arrives
ivit/i a bod* oj regular troops — An ends the
council of war at Annapolis. Assembly. — Libe-
rality of Assembly. — Satisfaction oj Governor.
The army moves from Alexandria. Washing-
ton* by invitation of 1'raddock, acts as volunteer
aid. — His opim>?i submitted to a council oj Wuv,
and adopted — T/;e general pushes on 'with the
tj.ain body — (-ol Dunhar le'/t behind to proceed
sloivly with the baggage — Army crosses the Mo-
nangahtla in order of batd — Is attacked ivit am
six miles r/ Fort Duquesne by a body of French
end Indians — Is routed with great slaughter —
1 anic of the regular troops. — Dtath o/ Brad-
dock — Coolness and bravery of Washington and
the provincials — They co^er the tet^ut of the
army. — T/.eir extreme sufferings in their ret eat.
Washington is sent bcjoie to iht camp of Dun-
bar. TJ<e arny reaches Fort Cumberland. Dun-
bar goes to r/uladttj hia. Drear ful incursions
GJ the Indians, ^n assembly — Their liberality
— Order a regimmt to consist of sixteen com-
panies. It G flung ton appomtcd commander in
chief of the colonial troops. Dissolution of as-
stii.bly. Viciv oj the war in the other parts of
America. A Jast ordered by proclamation. JDe-

165

parture of Dinwidiie. John Blair president. Assf^t-
bly — President's speech. Answer of assembly. Dawn
of M . Pitt's vigour. Francis bauquier governor. As-
sembly dissolved. — New assembly — John Robinson speak-
er* General Forbes marches towards Fort Duqutsne —
Virginians move in detachments from Winchester Battle
of Loyal Hanny. Defeat and slaughter of the British.
Celebrated retreat of captain Bullet. Fort Duquetne
evacuated. An assembl\ Death of Fauquier—His
character. View of the war in the other colonies.

CHAPTER III.

HITHERTO we have witnessed the Ameri- CHAP:
ean provinces, singly and unconnected, exerting
their efforts tor the protection of their frontieis
against their savage neighbours, or occasionally
furnishing a scanty and ungracious aid to the pa-
rent state. Though sprung from the same com-
mon stock, strong prejudices, arising from a dif-
ference of charters and the jealousy of commercial
competition, had tainted the mindb of the colonists;
and though they generally s} mpathized \\ ith the
mother country in her good or ill fortune, and
imagined that as Biiiish subjects they were
equally participators in the glory of her arms and
the wisdom of her politica.1 institutions : To each
other their deportment was cold and formal ; and
their friendship appeared rather the result of a
sense of duty than the impulse of feeling or at-
tachment. A new and more splendid sera arises
on our view. By an almost supernatural agency,
starting all at once into manhood, new ideas arise ;
ivith their strength and boldness springs out the
consciousness of rheir power. Driven into an
union by the sense of common danger, and the
sleepless ambition of an active and daring foe,
they sink their local prejudices and hy tiie foun-
dation of an American i haracter. The dawn of Diwn of
genius appears; a thirst f>r glory; a taste for America*
elegance and refinement LS introduced with wealth
and commerce : Grown every day better ac-
quainted with tae rich and varied ^rodactious of

168 HISTORY OF

CHAP. the British classics, their minds are smitten with
the delicate and exalted passions which they so
fcbly pourtray.

rl HIS sera may not inaptly be called the cradle
of American literature. Here \\ ere nursed those
hard} aisd luminous spiiits, who in arts and arms
vert alter wauls to rival the worthies of antiquity.
!Names ul.ich tall up images of honour and virtue,
of extensive bei^e volt .-net and consummate wisdom
were at this time imbibing the sublime precepts
and storing up the bright examples of the anci-
ent sages. In this sera were slowly formed the
eltnents of revolution ; and then first was pro-
jected the model of that federal confederacy, which
afterwards wrought into a more perfect form was
attci dcel with so many eventful and beneficial
consequences.

BRITAIN saw for a longtime, in this confede-
racy, only the means of advancing her own glory
and the extension of her empire. She little
thought that an union, apparently calculated only
to him ble the power of her enemies and exalt
l,er own, would one day effect an impairment of
1 er strength and a dismemberment of her terri-
tory.

IT may not be amiss to examine the causes
\vhich ltd to this union. The inquiry w^ill lead
us I eyor.d the limits we have prescribed to our-
fcclveV; but it uill give us a more clear and corn-
pit he nsive view of the comparative relations of
the British colonies ; ar.d by shewing it once the
\vhole ground, enable us to correct the defects of
a more partial and limited prospect.

BY an inspection of the map will be seen the
vast Disproportion between the 1 nnch and En-
glish colonies in North America. The one inha-
Li.nig the margin of the ocean and the mouths
and banks of ail the rivers as high as their

VIRGINIA; \

sources, which discharged themselves into it, CHAP.
cpjoytd under a genial sky and an extensive and _
adventurous commerce, ail the blessings which
wealth and independence could bestow. The
cities were crowded; their fit ids teemed with fer-
tility ; and their rapid growth portended at no
distant day the total extinguishment of French or
Spanish power on the American continent.

THE position of the French on the o her hand
was in the highest degree unfavourable. Shut
out from the ocean, except by the streams of the
St. Laurence and the Mississippi, and a few
cheerless settlements on the shorts of Acadie,
the} seemed in these cold and unsociable regions
kss to live than to prolong an existence. But
notwithstanding this striking disparity in their
stiength, there were some circumstances which
seemed to bring the parties more on a level, and
which sometimes gave ir ranee a temporary
ascendancy over her rival. Although the rovfd
charters extended the western frontier of Virgi-
nia from sea to sea, the French living at the
extremities of her bounds and on the back of
her central settlements, resolved to connect
those distant points b\ a chain of forts extend-
ing from the St. Laurence to the Mississippi.
They would thus be able to hold the British

colonies as it ? ere in a state of seige

They would monopolize the v\ hole Indian trade,
and what was of infinitely more consequence,
they would have all the numerous bands of war-
like Indians which inhabit those vast regions, de-
cidedly uncle?, their influence, and could direct
their destructive inroads along the vast and unde-
fended frontier.

THIS plan was not at first openly avowed. It
gradually disclosed itseii in me movements of
X

170 HISTORY OF

the French at Canada, and it was not finally etc*
tlaicd until the Indian traders under the Ohio
company were seized, and the farther settlement
of the disputed territory was interdicted under
similar penalties.

ANOTHER circumstance had a still stronger ef-
fect in equalizing the strength oi the parties. The
governors of Canada were generally soldiers of
refutation, and had the absolute care and super-
iiiU ndance oi Indian affairs ; whereas, the En-
glish governois were generally appointed by court
favour ; and the province of Indian affairs was
kit in the hands of the traders, who had no care
of the public good and were actuated only by the
most sordid motives and considerations. With
the exception of the Five Nations and their tribu-
taries, the French had the art. too of conciliating in
a l.ign degree the affections of the Indians; there
\vas a greater unity and decision in their means :
\\ hen .as among the English the best projects
\vere often rendered abortive by the cautious jea-
lousy and tardy deliberations of their assemblies.
So that though the actual force of 1 ranee was in-
ciisputably inferior, it was less diffused, more
compact and disposable. It could be brought
to a given point with more celerity, advantages
that often counterpoised the otherwise amazing
disparity.

IN oidcr to a better illustration of the succeed-
ing events, it will be necessary to say something
of the Ohio company established and composed
of merchants belonging to Virginia and Mary-
land, and st-veral rich commoners, and lords in
the mother country. This extensive association^
\\hose views were at once territorial and com-
iiitrcial,- anxious immediately to occupy the fer.
tile country included within their vast grant, dis-
jpatchcU biuve^oifc to form a map of the country.

VIRGINIA. 171

even to the falls of the Ohio. This project af- CHAP.
forded the justest uneasiness and offence to the _-_
natives, who saw that even the wilderness, whi-
ther they had retired, did not save them from the
rapacity of their invaders. No attempt had been
previously made to conciliate them by kindness
and presents. Their rights to the lands might
have been purchased for a small sum prudently
expended in nails, paints, blankets and hatchets.
But the avarice and rapacity of speculator? had
overlooked or disdained this compromise, un-
mindful of the melancholy train of misfortunes to
which their conduct would give birth.

THE French were not slow in representing this
procedure in a stile best calculated to infiamc the
passions of this people : Not omitting at the
same time to contrast their own just and concili-
ating policy with this rude and insolent encroach-
ment.

BUT independent of the impolicy of alienating
a powerful body of Indians, hitherto pacific and
favourably disposed to the British, the monopoly
of Indian trade exclusively vested in this compa-
ny, afforded just grounds of uneasiness to the
merchants in general, and their private repre-
sentation had a tendency to strengthen the sus-
picions and jealousies inspired by the representa-
tions of France.

EMBOLDENED by these circumstances, the
French ventured to extend their encroachments
even to the Ohio, and erected a fort at An Beuf,
a river which empties irseif into it. Mr. Humsi-
ton, at that time governor of Pennsylvania, laid
these proceedings before the assembly of that
province, and recommended the erection of trad-
ing houses, strong enough to serve at the same
time as forts for the protection of British traders :
But owing to the jealousies existing in the ter

172

HISTORY OF

gislature, this plan was only slowly and partially
executed,

THIS vast project having been now fully and
Robert explicitly avowed, the lieutenant governor re-
monstrated against, this daring infraction of the>

governor.

royal grant ; and the national pride was fortunately
stimulated by the fears of the frontier settlers, and
the importunities of the Ohio adventurers. It
was seen that the project of France, if persisted
in and allowed time to mature itself, threatened
not only the security, but the very exigence of
Virginia ; and it was resolved that no time should
be lost in defining a point, which, if left to the
ambiguity oi construction, would be productive
of endless dispute and aggression.

THE next care of the governor was to find out
a man fit to discharge the duties of an envoy. It
could not be concealed that it was attended with
great, if not insuperable diffi :ulties. Amongst ci-
Vi ized nations, the character of an envoy is re-
garded with a sort of artificial veneration. Like
the ancient heralds, their persons are looked on
as sa«. red ; and there is every where a solicitude
vneitver they pass, to receiv them with all the
forms oi good breeding, and to extend to them
the courtesies and civilities of hie. But the
ground over which our envoy had to pa^s was
•wild and solitaiy. and had never been trodden
bat by the wolf and the savage, unless occasion-
ally perhaps by the silent and advcnturouo foot of
tat Indian trader.

IT required the union of physical and moral
powers to contend successful!) with these difli-
cuiiie-s, and to the capacity of executing those
dutits with judgment, should be added the san-
guine and adventurous temper, whose confidence
borders on presumption ; whose anticipation of
looks Ukc the workings of prophecy*

VIRGINIA. ITS

Considerations calculated only to furnish matter CHAP.
ci apprehension and danger to ordinary men.
served hut to infiame the ardour and ambition c,f
George Washington, a youth scarcely yet nine-
teen ; and on the first intimation from the gover-
nor of hi>> intention, he embraced the proposal
viththattrank and unaffected uarmth that bespoke
an .r idest COHM ioiiMie^s of his own worth.

THIS youth, afterwards called upon to fill so
distinguished a station on the globe, wa.s the third
son of Augustine Washington, and the great
grandson of major John Washington, who has
been spoken of in the foregoing part of this
vork. He was born at Bridge Creek in West-
n.oreland county, the very spot on \\hich his
great ancestor had first made a settlement. In
his earh >ears he is represt-nted to have betrayed
a strong predilection for military liie. Kis \ou-h-
ful mind woulH collate and kindle at the recital of
British and American prouc-ss, and he bur-t 10
engage in the eonstest which Britain manful iy
sustained against the united power of the hou^e
ol Bourbon. At the age of fifteen, by his press-
ing solicitations, the place of midshipman uus
obtained for him : But, according to a recent bio-
gn pher, the '* interference of a timid arid affec-
tionate mother for a time suspended his mihuuy
career."

HAVING lost his father at the age of ten, his
education wanted that elegant and useful know-
ledge oi the glorious incidents and examples to
be found in the ancient classics and hib o

hardy discipline to be acquired by the study
oi ihe mathematics. Writing, vulgar arithmetic
ai;d practical surveying, composed the total of
hib knowledge of books ; and as his paternal
uas not equal to his ideas of independence
of rub nuiiel, he mode these <ic-

174 HISTORY OF

CHAP, quirements subservient to the increase of l-.is FOB-
tune. " His youth," adds the same biographer,
** was employed in useful industry, and in the exer-
cise of his profession of surveyor, he had an op-
portunity of acquiring that information respecting
vacant lands, and of forming those opinions con-
cerning their future value, which afterwards
greatly contributed to the increase of his private
fortune."

THE general opinion of his capacity may be
gathered from his appointment, at the age of nine-
teen, to the station of adjutant- general with the
rank of major.

SUCH was the character selected to bear the go-
vernor's message to the k rench commandant on
the Ohio; and at a future day destined to extend
the empire of liberty and reason from the St.
Croix to the sources of the Mississppi, from the
ocean to the borders of the lakes.

THE zeal of the youthful envoy will be col-
lected from his journal. He set out from Wil-
liamsburg on the day on which his commission
was dated, in company with an interpreter and
four attendants ; and having encountered incre-
dible difficulties from the nature of the country,
he had to pass through ; from the intrigues of the
1 rench and the attempts of a subtle and implaca-
ble enemy, he returned with an answer from the
French commandant, having made such observa-
tions on the nature of the country as were calcu-
lated at a future day to advance the military ope-
rations in this quarter.

THE answer of the French commandant was
dictated by that polite and artificial courtesy pecu-
liar to the French character, and was calculated,
as it was probably intended, to arrest the pro-
gress of military preparation, by holding up the
chance of accommodation, lie stated that hte

VIRGINIA* 175

would transmit the letter of governor Dinwiddie CHAP,
to his general in Canada, by whose order he had
taken possession of the place, and by whose an-
swer his conduct should be regulated. Tnis
evasion being jiibtly considered as amounting to
a refusal, the assembly at the instance of the go-
vernor made provision foi expelling the intruders
b} force. Funds were immediately appropriated
for raising a regiment of three hundred men.
The command in chief was given to Mr. Fry,
•who, to considerable personal respectability was
supposed to add a competent knowledge of che
country which was to be the seat of war. The
young Washington was appointed second in com*
mand, a striking proof of the opinion entertain-
ed of his capacity , and their sense of his faithful
and able discharge of his late arduous duties.

MEMORIALS* had been forwarded by several
Colonies to the British government, detailing mi-
mitely the various encroachments of France, and
Albemarle, the British ambassador at Paris, had
protested in form against so palpable an infraction
of the treaty of Aix la-Chapelle. When it was
discovered that no prospect of an amicable ad-
justment remained, the colonies were severally
instructed to stand upon their defence, and ex-
pel the French from the Ohio. But whilst the
British were only deliberating, the French were
occupying some of the most important points in
the country, and strengthening themselves daily
by troops from Canada and old France, and by
alliances with the numerous tribes that wander on
the Ohio and its branches.

AFTER the departure of Mr. Washington, hav-
ing received information of the military prepara-

* Hy tins'* British £mfiirc*

176 HISTORY OF

CHAP, tinns *n Virginia and the other colonies, the p_
fl vemoi o! Canada issued orders to the commander
on t1 e Ohio, to destroy the British forts and trud-
ii.g houses before they could be reinforced. la
<l.-i(iince to these directions, the fort at Lbgstown
v as surpriztd, and skins and stores to the amount
of twenty thousand pounds fell into the hands of
ti e victors. At the same moment M. Contre-
ct nr launched himself from the port of Venango
\\ith a thousand men and ten pieces of cannon in
thee hundred canoes, and surpriztd a fortwhich^
ii> obedience to the advice ot Mr. Washington,
Irsi'd been erected at the confluence of the Ohio
and IVionongfaht la.

THE preparations not being yet fully com-
pleted, Mr. Washington was directed to march
v itli two companies in advance to the Great Mea-
clows. This movement i^ represented by a re-
ct lit biographer to have taken place at the press-
ing solicitations of Washington; and the mo-
tives for it are stated to have proceeded from a
" fk sire to protect the country, to make himself
H'ore acquainted wi.h it, as well as with the situ-
ations and designs of the enemy, and to preserve
the friendship of the savages." On his march
he received information b\ s:>me Indians in
friendship with Virginia,- that a party of work-
men employed b\ the Ohio compam to construct
a fort on the south-eastern branch of the Ohio,
had been driven oil' by the French, who were
themselves actually employed in completing one
at the confluence of the Aileghany and Monong.i-
hela rivers, on the very spot which he himstll hi
his journal had pointed out as an admirable site
for this purpose. It was further stated that they
s w a detachment lro»r» this place on their way to
the Great Meadows, and offered to act as
to the French encampment.

VIRGINIA. 177

WASHINGTON lost no time in Imnroving this CHAP.
information to his advantage, and having marched __
all night, at die approach of day his guides shew-
eel him the French just pitching their tents in the
bosom of a retired valley at a small distance
from the path, and a few miles to the west ol the
Great Meadows.

His dispositions were immediately made. Cap-
tain Waggoner was ordered to iake a circuit a id
make his appearance on an opposite hill, which
overlooked the t rench. As soon as the party jf
Waggoner made their appearance on the hill, the
French hastily ran to their arms : But hearing
the shouts of Washington's detachment in their
rear, they faced about to defend themselves against
a danger more pressing and immediate. Both
parties tired so nearly at the same time that it Capture o?
sounded like a single discharge : Not another gun fl
was fired. Only one man escaped : Twenty one
were made prisoners, and the only person killed
was Jumonville, the leader of the detachment.*

IN this action, inconsiderable as it was, we
see the dawn of that genius which afterwards di«

* According to Wynne, De Villit- r, who commanded afe
the fort at Monongahela, seni a formal requisition to Mr.
Washington to abandon his p<.st, which he called an en*
croachmer.t on the French territory, by the hands of one
of his subalterns, called Jumonville, attended by a small
party. But he delivering no opinion of his own upon the
subject, and immediately afitr he says, " According to the
French accounts, Jumonvillt and his party were either killed
or taken prisoners by Washington, in a manner contrary
to all the rules of war established among civilized nations.**
I is certainly improbable that so large a party should have
been sent for pacific purposes, and that they should have
encamped at a distance fro n tue path, which in the wilder/
ness is considered as an infallible index to hostility.

Y

178 HISTORY OF

CHAP, rf cted the expeditions to Trenton and Princeton*,
It had, however, nearly proved destructive of
the fkte oi" the conqueror. A report had gone
abroad, originating probably with the prisoners,
that Monsieur Jumonville, whilst preparing for
a parley and actually engaged in reading a paper,
was run through the body by col. Washington,
This story, so well calculated to taint the fame
and the ieelings of a soldier, was circulated by
the industrious policy of France. It became the
subject of seveial angry remonstrances: it soon
niiide its way into Europe, and all the journals
rang with the melancholy story of Jumonville,
and with execrations against his inhuman mur*
Xkrer.

TRUTH and good sense at length slowly over-
took the slander: But the refutation of a calum-
ny is infinitely more difficult than its propagation^
tnd there were many who still wished to believe
it in opposition to the most disinterested and con-
clusive testimony. The account of this event,
given b} Mr. \\ ashington himself some time after
in answer to the inquiries of one of his intimate
friends, is marked with frankness and sincerity,
lie knew nothing (he said) of such a man as Ju-
Inonviile: He could not tell which party fired
first ; that it was possible he might have killed
him with a musket : But for a complete refuta-
tion of the slander, he invariably referred to his
officers and soldiers, who were then alive, and
who bore testimony to its falsehood and atrocity.

SHORTLY after this event a junction was elFect-
at ed \\ ith the main body at the Great Meadows,
the Great and inmieel lately after, being reinforced with two
independent companies of regulars, the detach-
ment moved on towards Fort Duquesne under
Washington, on whcm, by the death of colonel
JYy, devolved the command of the expedition*-

VIRGINIA. 17$

But previously, a small stockade was erected at CHAP.
the Great Meadows, for the security of their . IT-
horses and provisions. At the westernmost foot
of the Laurel Hill, cm^y fourteen miles distant Inr0rma-
fiorn their stockade, they were met by a party of
Indians, who in their figurative language informed a |arge
them that the enemy \vere approaching, as nnme <u- oi
rous as the pigeons in the woods. This intelligence French is
derived credit from the report of a faithful chief, approach-:
who had himself been e} e witness to the arrival in^
of a considerable reinforcement only two d-iys be-
fore at Fort Duquesne, and was confirmed by the
accounts of deserters.

THE only hope of success in the expedition,
\vas to attack the French fort before it was rein-
forced from Cana la ; and even then, a concur-
rence of favourable circumstances was regarded
as necessary to its accomplishment . The general
and faithful co-operation of the Indian auxiliaries,
and a defection of the enemies' Indians ; a rapid
march and surprize, before the garrison was pre-
pared for hostilities. The war had not as yet been
declared in form. Only a single man of Junion-
ville's party had escaped ; and it was hoped tint
Iv had either perished in the woods, or that he
\\ould rejoin his countrymen too Lite to warn
them of the danger that impended over them.

THE intelligence just received destroyed all
those expectations. In a moment it became ob-
vious that offensive operations must be abandon*
ed. Instead of the original project of sweeping
the French from the Ohio, Mr. Washington saw
that they must abandon the past advantages, and
confine themselves to the defence of the Virginia D;stress
frontier. The condition of the troops wasdeplo- ^danger
rably destitute. They had been five days without Of the Vir-
tasting bread, and the allowance of meat was too
scanty to supply the want of so necessary an arti-

180

HISTORY OF

Return to
Fort Ne-
cessity.

.Are attack-
ed by the
French and
Ji (lians,
v ho yre re-
pulsed.

cle. The position which they occupied was not
calculated to diminish their apprehensions. 4k The
enem\ could approach it within five miles by wa-
ter, and might either pass them by a road leading
through the country some distance from them,
so as to cut off aU supplies and starve them into
a surrender, or fight them with a superiority of
three to one."*

IN this delicate crisis a council of war was
hastily called, and an unanimous opinion was
pronounced in favour of an immediate retreat to
their stockade at the Great Meadows, which from,
the present aspect of affairs, was henceforth
known by the name of Fort Necessity. The reason
urgtd lor the adoption of this measure was, that
the stockade being situated at the point of union of
two roads, the nature of the surrounding country
would give them timely notice of the approach
of an tnemy. Here it was vainly hoped they
might make a stand until supplies and reinforce-
ments might arrive.

BEFORE the works were yet fully completed ^
the French and Indians, amounting as it was
supposed to fifteen hundred men, made their ap-
pearance, and enabled by their great superiority
and the small extent of the stockade, to spread
themselves on every side, they commenced a fu-
rious lire against every point at the same moment.
The shock was maintained with great steadiness
and intrepidity by the Americans, not only from
tl.e interior of the stockade, but from the sur-
rounding ditch \\hoaitho' sunk to their knees in
mud and water, kept up an incessant and destruc-
tive fire. The gallantry of the troops was ani-
mated and enforced by the personal example of

ton'>8 Life .

VIRGINIA; m

their youthful leader. He had early taken post CH\P.
on the outside of the fort, ani in the midst of
danger he exJurted his companions by his counte-
nance and example.

THE French fought under cover of the trees
and long grass, and as it was nat thought pru-
dent to attempt taking it by storm, the battle was
protracted from ten in the morning until night.
No impression was yet made up jn the works.
The French were ignorant of the force of the
g irrison, but from the obstinacy of the defence
UK re was every reason to apprehend that the con-
quest if indeed attainable, would be attended
with great drifio.iilties and loss. Famine, it was
true, was an auxiliary certain and fatal : But the
gairison might be relieved by the militia, and in
tiiat event they w mid be placed between two
fires, and their own retrtat perhaps cut off to
3r ort Duquesne. These consideiations induced
De Villier to propose terms, and a flag of truce
was dispatched to Air. Washington for this pur-
pose. But the proposed capitulation contained
conditions too humiliating to be brooked by tne
aspiring spirit of the youthful leader, and they
were sent back with the sole or i declaration, t;itt
no necessit) or danger should tver i idace so ) isc
a surrender of iiis own honour and that of ,113
brave companions.

AN answer so full of spirit and dcterminatioi
was attended with the proper effect on the -ni \ 1
of M. De Viiiier. He found ni nself co up-lied
to recede fro n nis haug'ity dejimd of unoili-
tional submission, and in the c >arse of the ni.* it
it was stipulated that the garrison should m tr-m
out with the honours of war ; should be permit-
ted to retain their arms aad baggage, and to

182 HISTORY OF

CHAP, march without molestation into the inhabited
._ — _. .1 — . parts of Virginia.*

SOME stipulations were inserted in favour of"
the French, which are not mentioned by any his-
torian, but which from their intimate connection
with several important transactions are well enti-
tkd to notice.

IT appears that a Frenchman of the mme of
La Force hid considerable influence among the
various tribes of Indians at the back of our settle-
ments, and that af.er the seizure of Fort Du-
quesne, he had been appointed to use his best
address to procure exact information of the state
of the v irginia frontier, and to embroil the sa-
vage neighbours. Young Washington having re-
ceived information that this emissary was travel-
ling in disguise through the country, had him ar-
jested, and in his possession were found papers
confirming the suspicions against him, and dis-
closing a part of the plans and policy of France.
A man possessed of such formidable powers it
v as deemed impolitic to treat according to the
common usages of war, and the resentment of
governor Dinwiddie according with his ideas of
prudence, La Force was by his orders brought
to Williamsburg and thrown into prison.

THE opportunity to redeem this man, *>o me-
ritorious for his activity and sufferings, immedi-

* According to Wynne, the terms were, that both par-
ties should retire : The provincial* to Will's Creek, within
the acknowledged confines of Virginia; and the French to
thtir former situaiion at Monongahcla. Vol. %.fi 26.

And again, he says, " Washington embraced the propo-
sal and deliverer] two officers as 'nosta^t-s lor the restitution
<tf the surviving prisoners oi Juinunville's detachment."

VIRGINIA. 183

ately suggested itself to De Villier; and for the CHAP.
performance of this condition, so important to .
tne« feelings and interest of the trench cause,
tuo hostages were demanded and received. The
hostages were lieutenants Stobo and Van Braarn.
ANOTHER stipulation procured by an artifice
•unworthy ot a soldier, seemed to confound for-
ever the tame and prkle of Mr. \V u^hington.
The capitulation was dratted in French, a lan-
guage with which neither Mr. Washington nor
an) of tiit party were acquainted. Ol this igno*
ranee De Villier availed Himself, by inserting an
expression, imph ing an admission on the part of
Mr. Washington, tiiathe had been the assassin of
J union ville. This imposture, together with the
articles of capitulation, was afterwards publish-
ed, and an apparent confirmation was for a mo-
ment obtained by its official form.*

* SIR,

I AM really sorry that 1 have it not in my power
to answer your request in a more satisfactory manner. If
you had favoured me with the journal a few days sooner, I
would have examined it careful. y, and endeavoured to point
out such errors as might conduce to your use, my ad-
vantage, and the public satisfaction ; but now, it ia out of
my power.

I had no time to make any remarks upon that piece which,
is called my journal. The inclosed, are observations or*
the French notes. Ti*«.y arc ol no use to me separated, OOP
will they, 1 believe, be of any to you, yet I send them un-
connected and incoherent as they were taken; for I have no
•Pjjurtunity to correct them.

In regard to the journal, I can only observe in general,
that I kej.t no regular one during that expedition ; rough
minutes of occurrences I certainly took ; and find them as
certainly, and strangely metamorphosed; some parts left
out, which 1 remember were entered, and many things add-
«d, that never were tnou.lu -jf ; the name* of men aod things

184 HISTORY OF

THE loss of the Virginia troops en this occa-
sion amounted to liit\ tii^ht in k ilk d and wound'
ccl : But in this return was not included the loss
of the independent companies. The French are
supposed to have su ill red. much more severely ;

rgregiously miscalled ; and the whole of what I saw En-
ghshtd, is very incorrect and nonsensical ; yet I will not
pretend to say thai the link body who brought it to me, has
not made a literal translation, and a good one.

Shi rt as my time is, I cannot I, tip remarking on Villier's
account of the battle of, and trarsact'ions at, the Mr adows, as
it is very extraordinary, and not less erroneous than inconsist-
ent. He says the Flench received tht first fire. It is well
known thai we received it at six hundred paces distance. He
also says, our fears obliged us to retieat in the most disordely
manner after the capitulation. How is this consistent with
Jiis other account? he acknowledges that we sustained the at-
tack, \varmly, Irom ten in the rooming until dark ; and that
lie called first to parley, which strongly indicates that \ve
weie not totally absorbed in Car If the gentleman in his
account had adhered to the truth, he must have confessed,
that we looked upon his offer t.6 parley, as an artifice to get
into and examine cur trenches, und refused on this account,
until they desired an officer might be sent to them, and gave
their parole for his safe rtturn. He might also, if he had
been as great a lover of the truth as he was of vain glory,
>avc said, that we absolutely refused their first and second
proposals, and would consent to capitulate on no other terms
ihan such as we obtained. That we were wilfully or igno-
rantly deceived by our interpreter, in regard to the word a*-
sassination, I do aver, and will to my dying moment; so will
every officer that was present. The interpreter was a Dutch-
man, little acquainted with the English tongue, therefore
might not advert to the tone and meaning of the word ir
English ; but, whatever his motives were for so doing, cer
tain it is, he called it the death* or the loss, of the sieur Ju
monviile. So we received, and so we understood u. until *c
our great surprize and mortification, we found i otherwise
in a literal translation. That we left our baggage and horse!
at the Meadows is certain ; that there was not even a possi
bility to bring them away is equally certain, as we had eveq

VIRGINIA;

Conjecture having with some probability esti-
mated their killed and wounded at two hundred.
If the nature of the action be considered, this

horse belonging to the camp killed) or taken away dip ing
the action ; so that it was impracticable to bring any thing
off that our shoulders were not able to bear; and to wai6
there, was impossible, for we had scarce three days provi-
sions, and were seventy miks fiom a supply, yet, to say we
«ame off precipitately is absolutely fals* , notwiths'anding
they did contrary to articles, suffer their Indians to pillage
our baggage, and commit all kinds of irregularity ; *e were
\vith them until ten o'clock the next day ; we destroyed our
powder and other stores, nay, «ven our private baggage to
prevent i'.s foiling into their hands, as we could hot ' ring it
off. When we had got about a mile from the place of action*
we missed two or three of the trounced, and sent a pa fly-
back to bring them up ; this is the party he speaks of We
brought them all safe off, and encamped within three mil 9
of the Meadows. These are circumstances, I think, thub
make it evidently clear, that we were not very apprt-hensivo
of danger. The colours he speaks of to be left, was a
large flag of immense size and weight ; our regimental co-
lours were brought off and are now in my possession. Their
gasconades, and boasted clemency, must appear in the most
ludicrous light to every considerate person who reads Vii-
lier's journal ; such preparations for an attack, such vigour
and intrepidity as he pre ends to hare conducted his march
n»ith, such revenge, as by his ewn account appeared in his
attack, considered, it will hardly be thought that compas-
sion was his motive for calling a parley. But to sum up the
whole, Mr. Villier pays himself no great compliment in
saying, we \vere struck with a pamck when matters were
adjusted. We surely could not be afraid without cause, and
if we had cause after capitulation, it was a reflection upoa
himself.

I do not doubt but your good nature will excuse the bad-
ness of my paper, and the incoherence of my writing; think
you see me in a public house in a crowd, surrounded with,
noise, and you hit my case. You do me particular honour
in offering your friendship : I wish I may bs so happy as
always to merit it, and deserve your cof respondence, wnich
I should be glad to cultivate. Wa9kington?9 Life*

z

186 HISTORY OF

\
CHAP, disproportion will not be thought surprizing

. *11* The Indians and Canadians must h ive been more

exposed, and thtir great superiorly of numbers
would have only aggravated this evil, while the
Anglicans were covered during the whole of the
action.

IN these first specimens, we bei:old the dawn-
ii.gs oi future greatness. Nor are tue symptoms
kbs pronging at the failure at the v'jreat Mea-
dows than b} the victory at the LitlVe. In the
first the foiesight, decision and impetuosity o£
the young man, during his first essay, are visi-
ble : In the second those qualities are un ited with
steadiness and coolness. The names of Bullet,
of Mtrcer, and of several others afterwards con-
spicuous lor their courage and patriotism, are to
be lound in the muster rolls of that day ; nor can
it ever be uninteresting to see from what humble
beginnings the glories of the country have pro-
ceeded.

WASHINGTON had scarcely commenced hisv
inarch towards the inhabited parts of Virginia,
\\i.en in defiance of the terms of capitulation, he
found himself interrupted by the Indians, who
hovered round them, occasionally appearing on
thtir wings, or hanging on their rear, i lenept-
ing their stragglers. Their persons and effects
weie not secure for a momen'. What they d d
not steal by night, they would openly lay their
ki,.i.is forcibly on by city, and every moment in-
drgnity ihe most mortji\ ing was addtd to robbe-
r\ ai.d outrage the most w*mtr>n, by the unre-
siraintd licen e of regular and brutal btrbar ty.
Ni^ht brought on no r pose ; for no eye could
close amidst the terrors of the war whoop and
ti-i- sc 1 i)ig knife* At Icn&t i, spent vvifh faiigue
a d \va eei by tiui^ger aud vvattliin^s, they reach-
Cu vviii Chester.

VIRGINIA; 187

THE house of burgesses, with a liberality that CHAP,
reflects honour on th< ir understanding, approved
the conduct of the officers and soldiers eng iged
in this expedition in a vote of fchunks, and gave
three hundred pistoles as a re » ard of their bra-
very, and a temporary relief to their immediate
necessities.

MEANWHILE governor Dimviddie, without
attending to the condition of the Virginia regi-
ment or the circumstances of the country, issued
ciders that it should again pass the Allcgany.
The companies expected from Carolina and Ma-
ryland had arrived, but the regiment was not
complete ; nor was it yet sufficiently recovered
from the hardships of the lute expedition. The
troops were in want of articles of comfort and
even of the first necessity, and their minds had
not yet forgotten their late terrors and humilia-
tion. It required time, added to the utmost ad-
dress of a beloved commander, to restore their
former confidence and inspire tljem again with
ITiilitary ardour.

IN spite of these obvious considerations, they
were ordered immediately to seek an enemy more
than double their numbeis and flushed with their
late victory ; to dispossess the French of >ort
Duquesne or construct one in some eligible site
for observing the movements of the enemy, and
affording protection to the trembling inhabitants
of that frontier. Against these orders, so marked
by precipitation and iblly, colonel Washington
protested in the strongest terms. But die go-
vernor was, not of a temper to give up any opinion
he had once formed, and he reluc'.andy prepared
to carry into execution the orders under the di-
rection of colonel Jones of North Coroiiaa, on
devolved the ducks of comuiaiicier in ciiicf.

HISTORY OF

BUT the funds necessary for these objects were
yet to be found. For although a governor of
Virginia might issue his commands for the levy
and march of troops, he had no means of paying
a single company, unless by the constitutional
mode of legislative supply. He entertained,
however, little doubt that the widom of the house
of burgesses would provide for an object so in-
teresting as the security of the frontier and the
national honour. In these expectations he was
confirmed by the address of that body in reply
to his communication at the opening of the ses-
sion ; an address at once bespeaking ardour and
capacity. In this, for the first time, they take no-
tice of the trench project of stretching their
frontier across the British settlements from the
" St. Laurence to the Mississippi, and to secure
the same by forts built at the most convenient
places " They take notice of the invasion of
the colony, and the forcible possession of the
lands of the Ohio company, contrary to the faith
of treaties, and declare that those measures are
calculated to rouse their indignation, as th^y are
to demand the most serious and strict attention.
They cannot doubt, they add, that the British
colonies will exert themselves in a mutual assist-
ance and unite with them in the common cause.
But whatever they do, say they, we are deter-
n.ined on our part to withstand the impending
danger, and to pursue every measure in our pow-
er to deft at these pernicious attempts of our ene-
mies, that we may convince the world we have
nothing more at heart than a zealous discharge
of duty to the best of kings, and the sincerest
regard to the safety and true interests of the co-
lony.

BUT notwithstanding these warm professions,
the assembly refused to advance a shilling to tli€

VIRGINIA;

•tfompTetion of the regiment, a-d even to the sup-
port of the independent companies in the pay of
the king, which were sent expressly to the as-
sistance of the colony, and the project of Din-
ttkMie was necessarily abandoned.

NOTHING will better describe the governor's Sept. sth,
disappointment and regret at this unaccountable
obstinacy than his speech in proroguing the ses-
sion.

Gentlemen of the Council \ Mr. Speaker and gentle-
men of the house of burgesses,

THE impending danger from the violent incur-
sions of the French, their threats and depreda-
tions, were the only motives for calling you toge-
ther at this time ; and the lives, liberties and
properties of your constituents, are in such im-
minent hazard, I did not in the least doubt but
that before this to have strengthened my hands
with a proper supply to frustrate their malicious
intentions, and especially when I received from
you such strong and repeated assurances, that
you " were determined on your parts to with-
stand the impending danger, and to pursue every
measure in your power to defeat these pernicious
designs of your enemies." 1 thought I might
reasonably admit the pleasing hopes that " you
would effectually provide for your country's pre-
servation, and convince the world that you had
nothing more at heart than a zealous discharge of
your duty to the best of kings, and the sincerest
regard for your country's welfare. "

How great then, gentlemen, must be my sur-
prize, and with what amazement must that country
and the world see such high expectations cast down
so low ; see you called upon in the day of your
£ouatry'i> distress, declaring your knowledge of

190 HISTORY OF

her danger, and declaring the greatest zeal for
her service, yet find these declarations only a
flourish of words; and that inconsistent with
them, and our purpose for meeting you, with-
hold } our aid, and thereby leave the enemy at full
liberty to perpetrate their destructive and unjust
designs.

THE independent companies ordered by his
majesty, clothed and paid by him, and now em-
ployed in your immediate defence, you absolute-
ly, by your resolve to me, deny subsistence to:
A thing unprecedented in any' of his majesty's
dominions where they have been employed in
their defence from incursion or threatened inva-
sions. I have my master's service and the safety
and honour of Virginia so much and so truly at
heart that 1 cannot but be deeply affected with a
conduct so contrary to her interests, and not alto-
gether unconcerned for you, gentlemen of the
house of burgesses, that you should appear in so
bad a light to his majesty, and give such ill im-
pressions to the neigbouring colonies.

However, as I find you are determined not to
do what your duty to his majesty and the present
obvious danger indispensably require, 1 think it
proper to avoid augmenting unnecessary expenses,
particularly incomenient at this time, and, there-
fore, to put an end to your continuance here, I
do berth} prorogue you to the seventeenth day of
October next, and you are accordingly prorogued
to that time.

IT is difficult to account* for this sudden re-
volution in the opinions of the assembly. Per-

* Wynne, who was a man of penetration, and appears
to have drawn his information of the events he relates Irom
the mofct authentic bouiccs, gives this incident with scvcrg}

VIRGINIA. 191

haps they were of opinion that the means of the CHAP.
colony should not be wasted in the chemerical
project of fighting for deserts and wilderness so
remote from their inhabited frontier, and which
seemed to be the comnon property of nature ;
they thought too, perhaps, that the expenses
of equipment should be defrayed by the Ohio
adventurers, or what is more probable that the
expedition of the > rench, as it was a com<non
gtievance, should be undertaken by the comunoa
exertions of the British colonies. Meanwhile
die Virginia regiment was reduced to independ-
ent companies, and Mr. Washington resigned.

His motives for this procedure, independent
of the state of inaction, are stated by a recent
biographerj who certainly had the best opportu-
nity of knowing the fact, to take their rise " in

others, which retarded the success and embarrassed the or-
der of militaiy operations. " The English,*' said he, " were
divided into separate governments, actuated by distinct and
sometimes contradictory interests, (p.27 ) They not only had
complaints against each other, the Virginians imputing Wash-
ington's misfortunes to the people of New York, who had not
fulfilled their engagements, but were also discontented among
themselves. Some very immaterial points in dispute raised a
quarrel between the assembly and the governor, which put
a stop to all business, an extremity which both parties ought
carefully to have avoided, when the danger from the
common enemy was great. The governor and assembly of
Pennsylvania were, from the like causes, in the same situa-
tio,-; and the inhabitants of New York were inflamed to the
higl est pitch of discontent, by a discovery they had made
of some instiuctions which sir Danvers Osborne their late
governor, who died immediate y on his arrival, brought over
with him. The rest of the colonies, wtre in a very little
better situation, and had agreed on no one plan of nction : If
they concurred in any th:ng, it was in alternately blaming
the backwardness, uud imploring the assisuuiCt. oi lUe mo-
ther country. "

HISTORY OF

CJTAP. orders received in the course of the winter fo*
settling the rank of the officers of his majesty's
forces, when joined or serving with the provin-
cial forces in North America ; which directed that
all officers commissioned by the king, or by his
general commander in chief in North America,
should take rank of all officers commissioned by
the governors of the respective provinces. And
further, that the general and field officers of the
provincial troops should have no rank when serv-
ing with the general and field officers commis-
sioned by the crown ; but that all captains, and
other inferior officers of the royal troops, should
take rank over provincial officers of the same
grade, having senior commissions."

THESE regulations, originating in the grossest
and most selfish partiality, and founded in a con-
tempt for colonial honour and understanding,
could not be brooked by the punctilious and ho-
nourable spirit of Mr. Washington. In his ob-
servations on the comparative merits oi European
and Virginian officers and soldiers, he saw no-
thing to justify this arrogant assertion of superi-
ority, and he was determined to discountenance
by his own example at least, an insult, which,
if carried into a precedent, would have the most
injurious effects on the courage and character of
his countrymen.

MEANWHILE La Force had by almost incredi-
ble efforts broken his prison at \Villiamsburg,
and the minds of the people of the whole country
were in alarm. The opinion that before prevailed
of his extraordinary address and activity, his des-
perate courage and fertility in resources, was by
this new feat wrought into a mingled agony of
terror and astonishment. Already had he reach-
ed King and Queen court house without any
knowledge of the country through which he pas*

VIRGINIA, 193

sed, without a compass, and not daring to ask a CHAP.
question, when he attracted the notice of a back-
woodsman. Their route lay the same way ; and "
it occurred to La Force, that by the friendship
and fidelity of this man, he might escape in spite
of the difficulties and dangers of his situation.
Some questions proposed by La Force relative to
the distance and direction of *ort Duquesne,
confirmed the woodsman in his suspicions, and
he arrested him as he was about to cross the ferry
at West Point. In vain did La Force tempt the
woodsman with an immediate offer of money, and
with promises of wealth and preferment on con-
dition that he accompanied him to Fort Duquesne.
He was proof against every allurement inconsist-
ent with his duty, and he led him back to Wil-
liamsburg.

THE condition of La Force, after this attempt,
became in the highest degree distressing : He was
loaded with a double weight of irons, and chain-
ed to the floor of his dungeon.

SUCH was the situation of affairs when colonel
Washington, after his resignation, arrived in
Williamsburg. Here, for the first time, he heard
of the imprisonment and persecution of La
Force, and he felt himself compelled to remon-
strate with Mr. Dinwiddie against them, as an
infraction of the articles of capitulation, and of
the laws of honour acknowledged by soldiers.
His application was strongly backed by the sym-
pathy of the people, which now began to run
strongly in favour of the prisoner : But the go-
vernor was inexorable.

MEANWHILE the hostages, Stobo and Van

Braam, had been ordered for greater security to

Quebec, and in retaliation of the sufferings of

La Force, they too were confined in prison, but

2 A

194 HISTORY OF

CHAP, without any additional severity. Almost at the
III burnt moment that La Force had broken his pri-
son, Stobo and Van Braam, by efforts t qualljr
extraordinary, had escaped from Quebec, and
were passing the causewa) leading iiomthe city,
at the moment that the governor of Canada was
airing in his carnage. Stobo succeeded in effect-
ing his escape : But Van Braam fainting with fa-
tigue and hunger, and despairing of being able to
effect his escape, called out to the governor from
bentath the arch of the causeway \\hcre he con-
cealed himself, and desired to surrender. The
governor received him in his carriage, and re-
manded him to prison, but without any extraor-
dinary severity. ,

EVEN these facts were not unknown to Mr.
Dimviddie : Yet without being touched by so
generous an example, he persisted in his unjusti-
fiable rigour towards La Force.

MEANWHILE the troops ex pected from Bri-
tain arrived in Hampton Hoads, under the convoy
of commodore Keppell. They consisted of
draughts Jrom the regiments in Ireland, and were
commanded by major general Edward Braddock,
an officer of reputation, who was appointed to
command in chief all the forces in North Ame-
rica. In a short time after, the men of war,
Seahorse and Nightingale, with several trans-
ports full of troops and military stores, made
their appearance, and were ordered round to
Alexandria, which was fixed on as the place of
remit zvous.

THE arrival of this armament was the signal
for convening an assembly ; and it was hoped the
care manifested by the king for their security in
sending so fine a body of troops to their assist,
ancc would induce a liberal and cordial disposi-

VIRGINIA; 195

don in the councils of the colony to co-operate t'NAP.
for their own safety and honour. _

WITH this view the assembly was summoned
b} proclamation to meet on the first day of May.
About ihe same time the governor signified his
majesty's directions, authorizing and requiring
him to make and pass grants of land to the west-
ward of the ridge of mountains, which separate
the rivers Hoanoak, James and Patowmac from
the Mississippi, free from the payment of quit-
rents, for ten \ ears from the date of their patents.
This measure originated in a wish to possess
and strengthen that fine country by a hard} po-
pulation, interested in its defence.

ON the '2'2d the governor arid general Brad-
dock proceeded to Annapolis in Maryland, for Attends
the purpose of meeting the governors of the c«nventlott
other states, and on the 14th of April a grand
concert of military operations was decided upon
in a council composed of the governors of Ne\v
England, Man land, Pehns\ Ivania and Virginia,
assisted by the information and experience of
general Braddock and commodore Keppell.

THE assembly at length convened agreeably
to proclamation, and the governor addressed them
in a speech calculated to exalt their courage and
rouse their indignation. The, project of France
for extending her dominions ; and her late vio-
lent encroachments on the territory of Virginia ;
the paternal care of their own sovereign exempli-
fied in dispatching to their aid a poweiful fleet and
army under the guidance of an able commander ;
the liberal contributions of the other colonial asbtm-
blies, estimates of which he submitted to them ;
their own personal honour and security, and the
glory of their ancestors : These topics were suc-
cessively presented to them, and urged with a
force proportioned to their importance. 'Amidst

196 HISTORY OF

CHAP, affairs of such magnitude, minor considerations
/5=_ . were not forgotten. The distressed condition of
the troops, who fought at the Great Meadows
was recommended to the bounty of the assem-
bly, and they were urged by every motive that
could interest rational beings to raise a body of
troops to co operate with the British army in ex-
pelling the invaders.

THE conduct of the assembly corresponded
with the urgency of the crisis, and the governor
of a* htbl Proro§ued l^em ty a speech expressive of his
satisfaction.

SOON after his arrival, general Braddock had
become acquainted with the merits of Mr. Wash-
ington, and with his motives for leaving the ser-
vice ; and judging that his knowledge of the
country, which was to be the theatre of war,
would be highly beneficial, he gave him the
place of volunteer aid, and admitted him into his
family. This invitation colonel Washington rea-
dily accepted, " stipulating only for permission
to employ himself in the arrangement of his pri-
vate affairs until the general should be on his
march, and that he might return to them when
the active part of the campaign should be over."^
Army ar- THE army now began to move from Alexan-
rives from dria. It consisted of two British regiments, a
Alexandria train of artillery and a few corps of provincials.
Having reached Will's Creek, afterwards called
Fort Cumberland, it halted for several days,
waiting the coming up of their horses, waggons, f

* Life of Washington.

t For the principal part of the waggons, the general was
indebted to the active and generous patriotism of Dr. Frank-
lin and his son.

VIRGINIA: 197

arid provisions. The short experiment of the CH \P

difficulty of the roads induced the general to ._ !

adopt to a considerable extent the advice of colo-
nel Washington, to use pack horses instead of
waggons.*

FORT Cumberland was the extreme frontier
settlement in Virginia ; every inch beyond this
was rugged and unreclaimed, unless where the
silent step of the savage or the adventurous foot
of the Indian trader had opened a path.

THE army had been already three davs in ad- istl> June,
vance of this place, and had made only six miles; 1755»
and the difficulties of the way were increasing at
every step. Trees were to be felled ; the matted
underwood to be cut away ; rude bridges to be
thrown over creeks and torrents, to admit the
passage of waggons and artillery. It became ob-
vious that by an adherence to this plan the
season would be lost for any effectual service, and
the enemy would have time to receive reinforce-
ments, which would render the success of the
expedition very doubtful, if not entirely despe-
rate. These observations were constaivly en-
forced by the anxious solicitations of colonel
Washington, from his bed where he was con-
fined by a burning fever, brought on by fatigue
of body and mind,

THIS gentleman, in whose knowledge the ge- Washintr-
neral is said to have reposed considerable confi l°n's
dence, urged the propriety of leaving the wag-

* Whilst the army was encamped at Fort Cumberland,
a large body of Lidians of different nations arrived} and
vrtre kindly received by geneiul Braddock. Tuey were
drawn up before the army in single files, and addressj.fi f-
ter the Indian fashion, in a speech full of metaphor and alie-
gory. The Indians replied, and mutual friendship was
and confirmed by several belts of wampum.

iicn bub-

198

HISTORY OF

CHAP.

_in_._

milted to a
council of
war and
adopted.

The gene-
ral pushes
on with the

main body..

gons, heavy artillery and baggage behind with
the rear guard, to follow 'by easy marches, and
to press forward in person with the flower of the
troops, some light artillery and stores.*

THE reasons urged by him in support of
this advice were, that according to all their in-
telligence the French were at present weak on
the Ohio, but hourly expected re in for cements;
th-.it during the present excessive drought these
re-inforcements could not arrive with the neces-
sary quantity of provisions and other supplies,
because the river La Bceaf, on which they must
necessarily be brought to Venaago, did not then
afford water enough to admit of their portage
down it. By a rapid movement, therefore, it
was extremely probable th-.it the fort might be
reached with a sufficient force to carry it before
the arrival of the expected aid ; but that if this
measure was not adopted, such were the delays
attendant on the march of the whole army, that
'* rains sufficient to raise the waters might reasona-
bly be counted on, and the whole force of the
French would probably be collected for their re-
ception ; a circumstance which might render the
success of the expedition extremely doubtful. "f

THIS opinion was submitted to a council of
war held at the Little Meadows ; and it was de-
termined that the general should advance at the
head of a select corps to consist of fourteen hun-
dred men, unincumbered with waggons save
what was necessary for the transportation of the
artillery. The baggage and provisions for this
force were to be transported on pack horses. The

* Lift of Washington.

j Ibid.

VIRGINIA. 199

remaining part of the army was to remain behind CHAP.
v. ith all the heavy baggage, under the command __JIL
of colonel Dunb-.tr.

COLONIAL LVNES had been previously left for
the defence of Fort Cumberland, and it was de-
termined to construct works at the Little and
Great Meadows to afford a refuge in the event of
any adverse fortune to the retreating army.

YET, notwithstanding the unincumbered state
of the army, they took up four days in marching
only nineteen miles from their late position at the
Little Meadows to the great crossings of the Yo-
hcgany.* This delay arose from the absurd ap-
plication of European tactics. The march oPfco-
iumns, the passage of defiles, and the complex
machinery of cavalry, of cannon and baggage,
may do for the extensive and open plain in Eu-
rope; but in the dark and continued forests of
America, this system is in the last degree mis-
chievous and pedantic. Here every thing is to
be done by surprize. You must adopt the Indian
method of fight. The single file; the eye and
the ear continually on the watch ; the body like
the leaves ; the cover of the oak ; the silent step ;
the swiftness of the deer. These are the pioper-
ties that laugh to scorn the cumbrous tactics of
Europe. Mr. Washington beheld with regret
this pernicious system adhered to, and laments it
in a letter to hU brother. " 1 found, " said he,
4i that instead of pushing on with vigour, with-
out regarding a little rough road, they were halting
to level every mole- hill, and to erect bridges over
every brook, "f

* Life of Washington
Ibidem.

200 HISTORY OF

IT took up nearly one month to complete the
remaii der oi the journey, a distance of not more
than eighty miles : On the ninth oi July the ar-
my came in sight of the Monongahela, on the
opposite side oi which, and at six miles distance,
was seated Fort Duquesne.

IT is difficult to account for the blind presump-
tion and security of general Braddock on this oc-
casion. Accounts well authenticated stated that
a considerable reinforcement from Canada had
been seen navigating Lake Ontario in batteaux,
and were directing their course to the Ohio. The
arrival of this force at Fort Duquesne was after-
w ards confirmed by some friendly Indians, toge-
ther with the intelligence that most of the tribes
inhabiting the Ohio, Mississippi and their branch-
es, had been allured into a co-operation with the
French. Possibly he mistook the silence and so-
litude of the country through which he passed, as
the effects of the fear his name and presence had
inspired ; and the little interruption in his march
from the Indians as an evidence that all idea of
resistance was abandoned and that the fort would
be evacuated at his approach.*

COLONEL Washington was not at hand to re-
move these impressions. The violence of his
disease had confined him to the camp at the Lit-

* This conduct is thus related by Wynne : " Having by
this means lessened his line of march, he carelessly pro-
ceeded with great expedition, insomuch that his rear was
left near forty miles behind ; and being so incautious as sel-
dom to bestow time to scour the woods he was to pass thro*
though earnestly entreated by sir Peter Halket to proceed
with caution, and to employ the Indians thai were with him
in scouting the woods, suffered himself when he had ad-
vanced within ten miles of the fort, to be surprized by an
eunbuscade of French and Indians. Vol. 2. 41.

VIRGINIAN 201

tie Meadows, and he did not join the army until
the eighth of July, too late to remedy the mischief,
if indeed his influence could at any time have
extended so far. He arrived in a covered wag-
gon, exhausted by disease and the fatigues of his
journey : But the ardour of his spirit and the
urgency of the crisis would not permit him to
take any repose, and he immediately entered on
the duties of his station.

IN the morning of the 9th, general Braddock
made preparations for passing the Monongahela. ^he arniV
A chosen body of three hundred light and un cros* the
incumbered men, under the command cf colonel Mononga-
Gage, passed as the advanced guard for the pur- hela in or*
pose of covering the army and scouring the coun- t,ero d*
try. These were quickly followed by a party of
two hundred, who were instructed to act as a re-
serve to the other detachment. The general
himself, with the column of baggage, artillery
and the main body of the army, passed the river
at one o'clock, and proceeded in order of battle
in the route of the other detachment, which
moved slow, and halted occabionally for the
coming up of the crntre. The general had ad-
vanced but a short distance from the bank, when
a quick and heavy fire was distinctly heard in the
front and left flank, and the main body advanced
to support it. But bef >re this could take place
parties of three hundred and two hundred suc-
cessively fell back on the main body, to which
they immediately communicated their panic and
confusion, and fr jm which no eibrts or exertions
could afterwards relieve them. The firing now
extended to every point Nothing could now Fort Du*
be more unequal than the circumstances of the
two armies. The French drawn up in the form
of a crescent at the skirt of a thick forest which

202 HISTORY OF

CHAP, appeared to have been studiously cut into this
A. ] * ' . iorni, and their position was strengthened by par-
ties oi Indians, who concealed in the grass and
shrubs, ambuscaded the whole ground on the
flanks almost to the edge of the river. The route
ofBiadciock la\ directly in the cer.tre of the trench
position, and they had it in their \ o\\er to attack
him at any moment with the greatest advantage.
It was thought prudent, however, to let him ap-
proach to a gentle eminence, at about one hun-
dred yards of their certre, where a most de-
structive fire was pourtd in fj oni behind the felled
trees and brushwood, with which the French had
masked their whole position at the skirt oi the
wood. The volley from the French centre was
the signal for the Indians, who, after firing fiom
the grass and bushes, spread themselves over the
plain.

THE same fatal principle of maneuvering that

retarded the march, was closel) observed. The

British w eie draw n up in tw o lines with the artil-

And routed j in the Centie; and they presented a solid

*ith nreat .* , , , r , « J * ,-,

daughter. l'oint» black front to the fire of the enemy. Lvery
thing that depended on courage was performed by
'the general, ije was distinguished in front on
horse back, endeavouring to dispel the fears of
the troops., and crying out to them to advance,
his face pictured with the violence of his inter-
nal tmoiions. The officers followed his gallant
example. But no exhortations ; no example could
concjuer the panic of the troops. For three hours
the battle had lasted without the least intermis-
sion in the slaughter, or in the panic and confu-
sion. The British yet kept their ground : But
their firmness arose rather from obstinacy than
courage. No entreaties of the officers could in-
duce them to fire with qny precision or effect.
Their ammunition was wasted, and they gathered

VIRGINIA. 20*

themselves into a body twelve deep, in defiance CHAP.
of every effort to order, and in titir coniuMon
bhot down their own men. In vi'in die unfortu-
nate general attempted to restore order, he had
already five horses shot from under him ; and
l,oth his aids \\ere killed at his si e. Nearh half
t'<e officers were tiled or wounded, and the
ground was covered with dead bodies. In this
dismal situation, the general received a shot in his
lungs through his right arm, and fell from his
horse. This was the signal for a general rout
amongst the regulars. From this moment every
tl ing was havoc, flight and dismay, and the of-
ficers, who displayed, in advancing against the
enemies' flanks in the woods, the most romantic
gallantry, were reluctantly hurried along with the
torrent. The provincial troops, better acquaint-
ed with the Indian mode of fighting, by disper-
sing themselves, and covering the flight of the
regulars, and prevented by their courage and ex-
perience the entire extermination ot the army.*
MEANWHILE the general was brought off the
field in a tumbril by colonel Washington, captain
Stewart of his guards, and his servants ; and by
the unequalled bravery of this body he was saved
from the distressful condition of a captive. It
would have been a melancholy aggravation of the
distress and disgrace of the whole army, to have
seen their venerable leader the victim ot his own
too ardent courage, fall into the power of an in-
solent and barbarous enemy, who regarded not
the rights or usages of civilized war, and whose
lust of revenge and savage ferocity were the oi^ly
measures of right and wrong.

Wynne's British Am, Vol. 2. ji. 42.

t04 HISTORY OF

CHAP. NOTHING could have been more imprudent
than the measures pursued to remedy the disor-
der induced b} the defeat of the advanced guard.
Instead of a retreat until he had an opportunity
of scouring the thickets with grape shot from his
ten pieces of cannon, or of orders from the In-
dian allies and provincials, to advance and flank
the enemies' ambush, he obstinately continued
on the ground most exposed to the enemies' fire,
and repeated his orders to form and advance.

THE rout of the army continued until they
recrossed the Monongahela, when they again
formed and proceeded in their retreat with some
appearance of order. They had now an opportu-
nity of observing more minutely the melancholy
reverse of fortune, and their reflection was em-
bittered by comparing the shattered state and
bleeding remnants with its gallant plight a few
hours before, when they passed the river in order
of battle. More than sixty officers were either
killed or wounded. Upwards of three hundred
and eighty privates were killed or taken, and
three hundred and twenty- eight wounded. All
the baggage, stores, tents, artillery, and even
the general's cabinet, containing his instructions
and other papers of consequence, had fallen into
the hands of the enemy. But past misfortunes
were aggravated by the prosptct before them.
They had to travel more than sixty miles through
a wilderness exhausted as they were, and if they
should escape the scalping knife the)' must perish
for the want of food.

IT is difficult to give any estimate either of the
force or loss of the enemy in this action. By
their own accounts both were inconsiderable, and
this appears to have been the opinion of colonel
Washington. Covered and almost concealed dur-
ing the action, they could have suffered but little

VIRGINIA; 20s

from the fire of a confused, terrified and routed
army, more intent on escaping than inflicting de-
struction.

THE conduct of the Virginia troops in this
action has been the theme of deserved eulogy.
To speak the language of the time, they fought
like men and died like soldiers; for ouf of the
three companies that were in the field, scarcely
thirty escaped. Captain Perroney and all his of-
ficers down to a corporal were killed. Captain
Poison's company shartd almost as hard a late,
only one of his men escaping. He himself was
amongst the slain. Captain IS le wart and his light
horse behaved gallantly, having twenty five killed
out of twenty nine. Colonel V\ ashington be-
haved throughout with the greatest coolness and
resolution. Alter the loss of Mr. Orne and Mr.
Moiris, the general's aids, who hud been wound-
ed early in the battle, on him devolved the wb >le
duty of forwarding the orders of th< comm
in chief, amidst an incessant fire of marksmen of
three hours continuance, lie had two horses shot
under him and four bullets through his clothes,
yet he came off unhiut, and contributed by his
coolness and activity to save the shattered renums
of the army. After the battle he \vas dispatched
to the camp of colonel Dunbar to procure bome
comfortable provisions for the troops, at u
place he arrived at the following evening ; and in
a short time he was joined by the a rim , exhibit-
in £ a picture of wretchedness iuffijient to melt
into compassion every beholder.

THE absence of Durbar from the battle of
Monongaheia was esteemed a fortunate incident.
For a-nidst the panic that prev tiled, numbers
would have been rather an injury; and but ior
the provisions found in his c.mip, no human ex-
pedient could have savxci the lives oi Uic

:06 HISTORY OF

CHAP. AT this place died general Braddock,. a rnnri

Tj* by his ardour and resolution, his noble contempt

of death, his generous thirst of fame, deserving
a better fate. His misfortunes and those of the
army arose from a fatal mistake, into which he
had fallen in common with all the officers of the
regulars serving in America; an obstinate perse-
verance in the principles of the art of war a> eon.
ducted by large armies in, Europe ; a too high
opinion of the courage and discipline of British
regulars, one somewhat bordering on contempt
for the provincial troops. It WAS owing to this
blind and fatal p>es imption that the provincial
corps was left be! *n ' at tort Cumberland, at the
Little and Great Meadows and with Dunbar :
And that only three companies of Virginians were
retained with the main army, and even these per-
haps merely in compliment to Mr. Washington
and the colony, which was the immediate theatre
of action.

BUT a mistake so general, that it becomes a
sort of popular belief, ought to affect only in a
slight degree the fame of the commander in chief.
In Europe his adherence to system, added to his
genius and courage, would have probably in-
sured success to his efforts. In any event, his
magnanimous courage, added to his misfortunes,
will raise up for him advocates among the brave ;
and the traveller as he walks on the banks of the
Monongahela, and contrasts the proud array and
majestic spectacle of Braddock 's passage of the
river in the morning, with the afflicting vie\v of
a shattered army with their dying general rcpas-
sing it in the afternoon, will mingle with his re-
flections on the capricious tenure of human great-
ness, a sentiment of sorrow for the ikte of this
gallant spirit.

VIRGINIA. 207

MEANWHILE it became necessary to adopt CHAP,
some plan of operations better suited to the pre- _
suit condition of the army. The number of the
worses was reduced, and those remaining were
10 exhausted that all hope' of bringing off the
itores, artillery and baggage> was necessarily
ibandoned. An attempt to defend any of the in-
jermcdiute positions in the present panic of the
irmy, was looked on as equally chimerical, and
;olonel Dunbar, on whom devolved the com-
nand, after destro} ing ever) tiling superfluous,
o prevent their falling into the hands of the ene-
n) , proceeded with the utmost expedition to Fort
Cumberland, from whence immediately after,
inder pretence of wintering and recruiting, he
narched to Philadelphia.

To every man of judgment in the army there
ppeartd but one mode of alleviating the present
nisfonunes and averting consequences still more
lisastrous. It was certain that on the departure
>f the army, innumerable detachments would
iescend the Alleghany with fury, and deluge
he frontiers. A strong garrison at Fort Cum-
>erland or some other commanding position,
phere the rt mains of the army might fortify
hemselves, could alone furnish an efficient bar-
ier to these irruptions. Instead of this, the sick
nd wounded were left at this post with only two
om panics of provincial militia, whilst the re-
nainder, consisting of sixteen hundred choice
nen, were transported to a quarter where they
ould be of no immediate advantage.

THE conduct of the regular troops had a con-
iderable effect in abating the long established no-
ion of their great superiority : on Mr. Wash-
ngion in particular it excited a strong disgust ;
viiiist the prowess of the Virginians affected -him
\itii Aiibure and admiration. In his letter to the

208 HISTORY OF

governor, after dwelling on the courage of the
Virginia troops, he adds, " the dastardly beha-
viour of the regular troops (so called) exposed
those \\ho were inclined to do their duty to cer-
tain depth ; and at length in spite of every effort
to the contrary, they broke and ran as sheep be-
fore the hounds, leaving the artillery , ammuni-
tion, provisions, baggage, and in short every
thing a prey to the enemy ; and when wre endea-
voured to rally tht in in hopes of regaining the
gu;iind, and what thty had left upon it, it was
with as little success as if we had attempted to
have stopped the wild bears of the mountains or
the runlets with our feet, for they would break in
spite of every effort to prevent it."

THE immediate consequences of this disastrous
battle were the exposure of all the frontier settle-
ments to the destructive incursions of the savages.
Parties of French Indians had already approached
Fort Cumberland, which they surrounded, and
even penetrated in several points to the Blue Ridge,
n.aiking their track with blood and desolation.
Dispatches arrived every hour of atrocities,
whose bare recital are shocking to the feelings of
human nature, and neither age, innocence nor
sex offered any stay to those barbarities. In this
desperate crisis the lieutenant governor thought
proper immediately to summon an assembly, as
the only effectual mode of affording a remedy to
the complicated distresses of the country, and
this body accordingly convened on Tuesday the
4th of August.

THE session, which was short, wras wholly oc-
cupied in providing for the wants and security of
the colony, and however cautious they might have
formerly been in disbursing the monies of their
constituents, it appeared that when the crisis aiot,e

VIRGINIA,

answering to their ideas of necessity they coii!d be
genenrjs if not profuse of the public resources.*

A* order was made for raising- a regiment, to
consist of sixteen companies, and funds were
set a part for this and other services, beyond what
had hitherto appeared of colonial bounty. The
command of this body was given to colonel Wash-
ington with the command in chief, as his coin-
mission specified, of all the force* raised and to
be raised in Virginia, and with the uncommon
privilege of naming his oivn field officers.

NOTHING certainly bespeaks more forcibly the
opinion thus early entertained of his capaci'y thim
this appointment : Nor was this reputation ibund-
ed, as too often happens, on the glare of a single
achievement : But on the consummate prurience
and address displayed during a course of the
most adverse fortune. It is the mind that pre-
serves its tenor in the midst of revu's.s thai is
alone formed for true greatness

THE situation of the colonies at this time sug-
gested to Dr. Benj imin Franklin the propriety of
adopting some efficient plan of union amongst
the British colonies ; arid commissioners froai
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Khode Island,
New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland met at
Albany for ihis purpose.

* Mr. Marshall erroneous' y supposes tha' the a
was in session when the news arrived of B -ulclock's d- feat.
Independent of the (late* the lan.^u :.g.? of the
communication to both houses, effectually 'ieitr i:»es
pMint. " I am truly sorry,'* he says, " for the occasion '>{
t tiling you together so suddenly, but the unevp-cted and
i< \\ defeat of general Rraddock at Motion^ ...i.it is

absolutely necessary to call the as-,e;ubi»V »ic,

2 C

210 HISTORY OF

^ Dr. FRANKLIN attended here as a
si< i;er iiuiu Pennsylvania, and produced a plan,,
oi Ai- which, from tbe place of meeting, has been usu-
all) termed, " The Albany Flan of Union." Thi&:
proposed, that application should be made ior
an act of parliament, to establish in the colonies
a general government, to be administered by a
president- general, appointed by the crown, and
b) a grand council, consisting of members cho-
sen b) the representatives of the different colo-
nies ; their number to be in direct proportion to;
the sums paid by each colony into the general
treasury, vith this restriction, that no colonyr.
should have more than seven, nor less than two
representatives. The whole executive authority
was committed to the president general. The
nower of legislation was lodged in the grand
council and president- general jointly ; his consent
being made necessary to passing a bill into a law.
The power vested in the president and council,
v, ere, to declare war and peace, and to conclude
treaties with the Indian nations; to regulate trade
with, and to make purchases of vacant lands
from them, cither in the name of the crown, or
of the union ; to settle new colonies, to rmike
laws for governing these until they should be'
erected into separate governments, and to raise
troops, build forts, fit out armed vessels, and.
lise other means for the general defence : And, to
c.iect these things, a power was given to make
laws, laying such duties, imposts, or taxes, as
thty should find necessary, and as would be least
burdensome to the people. Ail laws were to be
sent to England for the king's approbation ; and
unless disapproved of within three years, were
to remain in iorce. All officers in the land or
sea service were to be nominated by the presi-
dent-general, and approved of by the general

VIRGINIA.^ 211

Council; civil officers were to. be nominated b?;
the council, and approved by the presides."
Such are the oudines of the pLm proposed, for
the consideration of the congress, by Dr. F < nk-
lin. After several days discussion, it was unani-
mously agreed to by the commissioners, a copy
transmitted to each assembh, and one to the
king's council. The fate of it was singular. It
was disapproved of by the ministry of Great Bri-
tain, because it gave too much power to the re-
presentatives of the people ; and it was rejected
by every assembly, as giving to the presidmt
general, the representative of the crown, an in-
fluence greater than appeared to them proper in
a plan of government intended for freemen.

MEANWHILE expresses continually arrived
that a large bod} of Indians joined to a select corps
of Fren h had issued from Fort Duquesne, and
were spreading destr uction on the defenceless fron-
tiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia. So
far from being able to restrain the fury of the e
irruptions, the regulars and militia pent up in
forts, h*d the misery of viewing the desolation,
which they could not relieve. The conflagration
of houses ; women and children ripped open whilst
yet alive; old men knocked on the head ai>.d
scalped, and every brutal indignity and mutual
lion inflicted on their bleeding bodies by the drun-
ken triumph of savages, were rendered familiar
by their frequency and repetition*

Mr. WASHINGTON, who was on his way to
Williamsburg, for the purpose of cotiferri'jqr
with the governor on the plan of operations for
the campaign ; for the more effectual organization
of the militia, and the management of the Indi-
ans, was overtaken below Freclericksburg by an
express, announcing a new irruption more de-
structive than any of the preceding, and he hast-

1S HISTORY OF

CHAP. erfr' back to Winchester, where every object
_ .; . bespoke ihe terror excised by these dread I ul in-
vaders. " Tht back inhabitants, instead of as-
sembling in arms and obtaining safety by nu^ t-
ing the enemy, fied into the lower country, and
increosc d the general terror. In this state of
things he endeavoured to collect and arm the men
\\ ho had abandoned their houses, and to remove
their wives and children to a distance from the
scene of desolation and carnage exhibited on the
frontiers ; he gave too the most pressing order*
to the new appointed officers, of whose inatten-
tion to duty he greatly complained, to hasten
their recruits ; and directed the county lieute-
nants below the Blue Hidge to order their militia
immediately to Winchester. But before these
orders could be carried into execution the enemy
jecrossed the Alleghany, with their prisoners and
plunder, leaving behind them impressions of ter-
i-: ; and dismay so deep as no time could after-
v arete obliterate or eftace :"# This writer, to illus-
ti ate more forcibly his remark F, nuot.es largely irom
the letters and dispatches of colonel Washington.
Descriptions of scenes so distressing drawn by
the principal agent and rendered more vivid by
the colourings of his own feelings and observa-
tion, produce an effect more striking and drama,
tic than the narrative of the historian. But this
effect should not be weakened by a too frequent
use. Jt may serve to embellish ai\d illustrate &
particular situation or incident: But the order of
the narrative should not be materially interrupted.
Under this impression I shall abstain from quo-
t,. tions heedlessly resorted to, and without suffi-
cient reason; but i conceive it would be the

of

•VIRGINIA. §

last *rp-~r of affectation, when writing- arnrrntlve CHAP.
of f-ictb, to omit any thing that may conduce to u _
more complete knowledge of those facts, for no
better reason than because it has been adopted
by another.

THE snme writer snes on to give a still more
effecting -repetition of these horrors : 4' Karlv in
the ensuing sprine, the enemy invited by the sac-
cess of the preceding year, made another irrup 175B-
tiou into the inhabited country, and did great
mischief. The number of troops on the regular
establishment was toUlly musuflicleTrt f >r the nro-
tertio' of the frontier, and it was foun 1 imprac-
ticable to obtain effective service from the militia.
The Indians divided into small parties, conceal-
ed ht-mselves with so much dexterity, as seldom
to be perceived until rhe blow \\ as struck. These
murders were frequently committed in the very
rieighbourhood of the forts, and the detachments
from the garrisons, which were e.rij>loyed in
scouring the country were generally eluded, or
attacked to advantage. In one of these skirmishes,
immediately in the neighbourhood of a stockade,
%he Americans were totally routed, and cap1: tin
M«*r*.er killed. Such was the confidence of the
enemy, that the smaller forts were very frequently
-$i>s;t uked, and they had repeated skirmishes*

«* * In Oiie of these skirmishes, Mr. Donville, an ensign
1n the French servi ;e w.is killed, and in his pocket were
found the orders given hiii by Dumas, tK* cosiimandant or»
3t»c Oti'to, in winch he was <ii reeled to pass Fort Cumber-
land, to harass the convoys, and, if possible, to burn the
fiiairttgines at Conogagees. l*o the honour of Du.nas, par-
ticular instruc tons were given, to restrain the Indians a-% tap
as it should be in his power, from murdering those wrha
/should f«»il into 'heir han-'s. Unfor;iiuutcly> obedience 10
orders cuuW ssiduni be euforccU.'"'

•214

HISTORY OF

CHAP, with such scouting parties as they fell in tvith:*
Ill> The people either abandoned the country, or at-
Govern,. r templed io secure themselves in small stockade
forts, where they were in great distress for pro-
visions, arms, and ammunition ; were often surv
-rounded and sometimes cut off. With this state
of things colonel Washington was deeply affected*
" I see their situation," said he, in a letter to the
lieutenant governor, " I know their danger, and
participate their sufferings, without having it in my
power to give them further relief than uncertain
promises. In short, I see inevitable destruction in
so clear a light, that, unless vigorous measures
are taken by the assembly, and speedy assist-
ance sent from below, the poor inhabitants novr
in forts must unavoidably fall, while the remainr
der are flying before the barbarous foe. In fine,
the melancholy situation of the people, the little
prospect of assistance, the gross and scandalous,
abuses cast upon the officers in general, which is
reflecting on me in particular, for suffering mis-
. conduct of such extraordinary kind, and the disr
tant prospect, if any, of gaining reputation in
the service, cause me to lament the hour thai
gave me a commission, and would induce me,
at any other time than this of imminent danger,
to resign, without one hesitating moment, $
command, from which I never expect to reap
either honour or benefit : But on the contrary,
K\ve almost an absolute certainty of incurring
displeasure below, while the murder of helpless
families may be laid to my account here.

%4 The supplicating tears of the women, and
moving petitions of the men, melt me with such
r vadly sorrow, that i solemnly declare, if 1'know
loy own mind, 1 could offer myself a willing sa-
< . »Hce to the butchering enemy, provided that
\vouid LOU tribute to the -people's -ease."-

VIRGINIA 2

* -THESE multiplied disasters .induced colonel CHAP.
Washington to propose a new and more e&ctual
organization of the militia, and an increase of
the regular troops : But the determined economy
of the assembly refusing to sanction his projects,
he proposed a plan of defence, by establishing a
chain of twenty two forts to extend from the ri-
ver Mayo to the Patowmac, a line of three him-
dred and sixty miles. This project required a
force of two thousand men : Bat onh provision,
for ten companies could be extorted from the as-
sembly, and the project could therefore be onlyr
partially adopted.

kt LORD LOUDON at length arrived in Virginia,
and in addition to his character as commander in
chief, he w&s clothed with the highest civil au-
thority, having been appointed governor of the
colony. A complimentary address from the re-
giment, stating their pleasure at his arrival and
appointment, and the readiness with which they
'would execute his commands, was presented to
him ; arid a very comprehensive statement of the
situation of the colony in a military point of view,
and of the regiment in particular, was drawn up
and submitted to him by colonel Washington.
In this he enumerated the errors which had pre-
vented the completion of his regiment, showed
the insufficient) of the militia, and demonstrated
ihe superiority of an offensive over the defensive
systems which had been pursued. After stating
the particular situation of the forts, lie proceeded
to say, 4' it will evidently appear irotn the whole
tenor of m\ conduct, but more especially from
my reiterated representations, how strongly I
have urged the governor and assembly to pursue
different measures, and laboured to convince
them by all the reasoning I was cupahk oi oiLr-
mg, Ql tat iaipo^^iiiL} of covering so exten-

lfr fTISTORY OF

CHAP, ?7ve a frcrtkr from Inciian incursions, without
n.trc force than \ irginia can maintain. 1 have
erdeavcijred to demonstrate that it \\ould require
kvui n en to remove the cause, than to prevent
the effects while the cause exists."

" IROCEEDING then to state the services of his
regime lit, he added, tl at ui-der the disadvan-
tageous restraints which had been enumerated,
he- must be permitted to observe, that the regi-
ment had not been inactive. " On the- contrary,'*
he. said, " it has performed a vast deal of work,
and has been very alert in defending: the people,
which will appear by observing, that notwith-
standing we are more contiguous to the * rench and
their Indian allies, and more exposed to their fre-
quent incursions than any of the neighbouring
colonies ; we have not lost half the inhabitants
which others have done, but consider ibly more
soldiers in their defence, r or, in the course of this
campaign, since March 1 mean, as we have had
but one constant campaign, one continued scene
cf action since we first entered the service, our
troops have been engaged in upwards of twenty
skirmishes, and wt- have h.id near OLIC hunditd
menkilled and wounded."

" AFTER condemning- the ill judged economy
shewn in raising men, he proceeded thus to de-
scribe the prevailing temper of the day, a temper
by no means peculiar to that particular err.. *' We
are either insensible oi danger until it breaks up-
on our heads; or else, through mistaken notions
of economy, evade the expense until the blow is
struck, and then run into an extreme of raising
r. iiitia. These, after a" age as it were, is spent
ii» assembling them, come up, make a noise for
?. time, rppuss the inhabitants, and then reUrn,
3<avirg tl* fio'Uicrs us^unrotd as 1 e.ore. This
k Mill our rciuii&e, rot¥r*thfeta$dinf iprnm

VIRGINIA.

perience convince us, if reason diet not, that
the French and Indians arc watching the oppor-
tunity when it shall be lulled into fatal security,
and unprepared to resist an attack, to invade the
country, and by ravaging one part, terrify ano-
ther; that they retreat wnen our militia assem-
bie, and repeat the stroke as soon as they are dis-
pcrstd ; that the} stud down parties in the inter,
mediate time to discover our motions, pr>
intelligence; and sometimes to diver: the troops,
buch an invasion we may expect in March, if
measures to prevent it are neglected as ihcv hi-
therto have been.'1

44 THIS statement wns probably presented by
colonel Washington in person, who was ptra.it-
ted, during the winter, to visit lord Loudon in
Philadelphia, where that nobleman met the go-
vernors of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Nonh
Carolina, and the lieutenant governor of Virgi-
nia, in order to rc-ir-iur. vithth-:m on the rrka-
•siires to be taken in their respective provinces,
i'.r the ensuing campaign. He was however,
disappointed in his favourite hope of being eru-
b-ed to act . offensive;}' against the French o:
Ohio. L rd Louden rud determined to d-i :t
all his efforts agaii.st the enemy in the northern
parts of the continent, and to leave in aid of the
middle c;nd .sout! ern colonies only twelve hun-
dred men. Instead of receiving assistance, Vir-
ginia was required to send four huudrc-d men to
the aid of South Carolina : Yet colonel Wash-
ington continued indefatigable in h's endeavours
to impress on Mr. Dinwiddiei and on ^he assem-
bly, the importance of reviving and properly
modifying their military code-, which had now
expired, of making a more efficient rrilria !•-'.*,
and of increasing their number of i

318 HISTORY OP

•-•CHAP. THE assembly prorogued to the 27th of Oc-
1 tober, was dissolved on the 9th oi November,
and wrifs were issued for a new assembly to meet
on the 22d of the same month. The sole aiten-
tion of government was now ciireeted to the de-
fence oi the frontiers, and as the late disasters
were supposed to flow from the sins of the peo-
ple, a fast was enjoined b\ proclamation, for the
purpose of averting the anger of heaven. As
some alleviation of the present distresses, inform-
ation was received that the Cherokecs and Ca-
tawbas, hitherto enemies, had smoked the ca-
lumet of peace at Fort Cumberland, and had
jointly taken up the war club in favour of Vir-
ginia, and danced the war dance, the usual pre-
face of Indian war.

THE campaign to the north, with the excep-
tion of the defeat and capture of Baron Diescaw,
Was equally inglorious; notwithstanding the great
force employed by the colonies, it failed in every
one of its parts. Johnson direcu d an expedi-
tion against Crown Point, and Shirley against
Niagara : But owing to the lateness of the sea-
son both were abandoned, and troops put into
winter 'quarters.

THE plan of operations conceived by the pro-
vincial generals appears to have been judicious. Its-
first feature was the reduction of Niagara,* for

« * Niagara is wit) out exception, the r ost important
post in America, and secures ii greater number of commu-
mentions, through a mere tx ensive country, than perhaps
any other pass in the world ; for it is sUuattd at the very
<;i fanceofa streighi by which L.ike Ontario is pined to that
pf F>ic, which is connected with the otr.cr three great lakt*
by the course of the v*st river St. Lawrence, which runs
jUirough them all, and carrirs off their superfluous waters t»
tl)e»ctan. A htlk ab«ve the fort is the Cataract of Nia>-

VIRGINIA.

CHAfV

the purpose of destroying the commiH?afion he- CHA
tweeu C.inadx and Loui^htv.t. Hi safety -f *j
New York requ'r^d the reduction of Ticonrle-
roga and Crown I'oint. l'!i" p^'uSiM* passes

gara, the most remaikthlc in t e *oil : for il-.c 41 »:.. ai1- of
water and the jjitatn-.ss ot the full ; the pfjrp< ; dicuiav tall
of the water bein< <• xacciy otic iu.mlrcd rvx\ thirty -scvun
fetrt. Tiiis faU wouid interrupt the cornmerc.- between vne
two lakes, but fora road rn,;d :>y the F e-.ch u^ tlic h;i'.y
country thai lies by the s'rei'-^ir ; so liid , .tftir truveli n^
about eight miles, persons m *y feimb k m\<\ ^ro-x^d,
without fiirtiier iMetruptioa, to f e L -.k>r line

<* Those who travel by land ^re ais j UD!: (ed to cross the
streigiit; the lakes be »^ so d^soosecK Miai wi-'h u' a h ,-zu d-
ous voyage trie Indiati> caiunit otherwise pass tro-n the
no .tu-west t> the s,>uth-east p^r;.s of North \nierca, for
many hu idred miles. T e Tort of MM ara: thus naturally
commands the Six Nations, ^r.d all h » e IndhM T.b.-s :iiat
lie to the nonhwatd of tii,, lakes, us well a«> tiivine hat are
scattered alon^ the bunks of the O vo, ^)tuoachf aiK< *>1.s«
sibsippi, and, according as it was p^s^ii'ied by the French
or English, conncc<ed or disjointed Canada and Louisiana.

•' From the time UK- French \t»re acquainted wuh t'Tis
place, they were fully sensible of its importance ...both win
respect to trade and do<m'uou Ther made several at-
tempts to establish themselves here ; bi»t the Indians con-
stantly opposed it, and ob iged them to rel»r«q»nsa a fort
\vhich they had built; and guarded ,his sptii, tor a ioog
time, with a very severe and piudcnt jealousy.

" liut whilst we neglected tocukiVite ihc iov^- of the In-
dia-, is, the French omitted no endeavours to ^ain thest »a-
va^e-5 to tlieir jiverest , and prevailed at last, under the n.\nrie
oi u trading hour,?, to crecr a strong fort at the mouth of
the streight. A French officer, of an enterprising genius,
J)ad becii a prisoner among the Iroquois a lonwr time ; and,
according to their custom, having been naturalized,
very popular amongst them, and at Uist rcgaim.-d ;as liberty.
He coaunuiiicaied to the then gotftrnor of Canadaa pi--11 i()r.
an esUblishment ai Niagara, and nnd* nook to t-xecuie H i«i-n-
sclf. K^ returned amonsjj the I^quo-.s, aw pi
great lovj for their nation, \vh>c;-. \Vi-> t\o\v »\is O«A
ihcm he would gladly visii his t-ieuatn frequently i

>SO HISTORY OF

CHAP, on Lake Champlain were to have been secured.
Fort Duquesne besieged, and Quebre itself
threatened by an army by the Kennebeek. But
the delay oi lord London, who was appointed the
successor of Shirley, paralized. these projects.
The want of union and capacity in the British
ministry h< d retarded the expedition until the sta»
sui was oo far advanced.

Mr N T c A L M, a ;soldier of reputation, who had
L.Ttiy been appointed to the command of all the
Fieuch in America, seized this interval of sus-
pense and t. mbarrassment to strike a blow that
should letrieve the honour of the French arms,
Slid establish on a firm foundation the safety of
Can ida. He set cut from Quebec w ith a chosen
body of French, and by a c- ursecf bold and ju-
dick.us maneuvres, having distractc d the atkn-
ticn of he Americans, he successively apptaud
before the important posts at Oswego and On-
ail of v\ hich were carried with scarcely any

was proper f -r that purpose that they should allow him to
buuc! nimscli an houst, "here he might Jive according to
Jus own manner; at the same time, proposing to them ad-
vantages in trade for this establishment. His reques' was
easily planted The house was huilt, and by degrees tx-
tcm et' aril strengthened by various additions, and at last
btc -me .- regular fortress, which had evtr since awed the
Six Nations, and checked our colonies.

^ As to these immense lakes, which are all in a manner
commanded by ?his fort, the reader need only cast his eyes
on the map of N.- rth America to be convinced of their im-
poiunci-. They afford by fur the most extensive inland na-
vigation in the whole universe. Whoever is master of them
&,urt sooner or later command that whole continent. They
are all surrounded by a tine fruitful country, in a tempe-
rate please m climate. The day may possibly come when
this noble country, which seems calculated for universal
Will biiftVi -p'iy display iisown importance-"

tt-.ynnt's British dvi* Vol. 2. /i. 102—104^

VIRGINIA. 221

opposition. The earl of Loudon, who had ar- CHAP,
rived immediately after these disasters, contented
himself with making preparations for the ensuing
campaign.

FORT Granville, on the frontiers of Pennsylva-
nia, was at the same time surprized by a body
of Indians, and the garrison with their wives and
children driven into captivity ; whilst roving par-
ties extending themselves, spread terror and de-
solation along the vast extent of undefended fron-
tier.

THE only offset to the multiplied disasters
arose from a spirited incursion into the enem\ 's
country, by colonel Armstrong at the head of two
hundred and eighiy provincials. He proceeded
from Fort Shirky on the Juniata to Kttatinning,
the rendezvous of the Morian Indians, who had
destroyed Fort Granviile. This settlement hv
twenty- five miles above Fort Duquesne on the
Ohio ; and his route lay through thick woods and
swamps, a distance of at least one hundred and
forty miles. On the fifth day he reached the town,
at one hundred yards below which he halted, on
the banks of the river, and disposed his men in
ambush. The Indians engaged in celebrating:
one of their festivals, uere attacked at day
break, and though wholly unprepared defended
themselves with heroic bravery. Captain Ja-
cobs, their chief, defended his house through
the logs, and repeatedly rejected quarter. The
house at length beng fired in several places, ma-
ny were su-ftocattd; and Jacobs, his wife, and a
child called the king's son, were shot in their at-
tempts to escape by the window. Forty Indians
perished in this assault, and eleven Knglish pri-
soners were released Irom a captivity worse thaa
death.

HISTORY OF

To repress the future incursions of the Indians^'
a strong fort was built at Winchester, which was
called Loudon in honour of the commander in
chief. At the same time the governor of Pennsj l-
vania concluded a peace with the Deluwarcs,
who inhabited the banks of the Susquehannab.
MEANWHILE Dinwiddie announced his in-

-July 22, tended departure from the colony ; and the* coun-
cil, together with the municipality of Williams-
burg, addressed him in language expressive of
their esteem and respect. Whilst describing
their rep, ret on account of his determination they
took occasion to deplore the successless efforts'

, of the British fleets and armies. He saikd in

the early part of the following >ear, leaving the
government, according to established usage and
the king's instructions, in the hands of the pre-
sident of council, John Blair. >
THE characttr of IXinwiddie is marked by few
of those points which render a rational being con*'

£pril 24, Spicuous or distinguished. Previous to his ap-
58* pointment as trovernor, he h id acted as clerk to a
collector of the customs in one of the British
West Indies. In this sUa<ttioii he h K! the virtue
and sagacity to detect and expose to government,
an enormous system of fraud which hud been prac-
tised by his principal ; and was for this service im-
mediately appointed to the government of Virginia*
In this situation, rendered critical and of great im-
portance immediately afttr his arrival by having
given rise to a war which raged in every quarter of
the globe, liis conduct is liable to sever A strong ob-
jections. Several charges were brought against hiav
of avarice and extortion in the exaction of illegal
fees; and against one in particular the exaction of
a pistole for every patent; the assembly protested
iu form, by their agent Peyton Randolph, the
king's attorney general, a man eminently respect*

VIRGINIA. 22S

Sible for his worth and talents^ A still more se-
rious ground of dispute between him and this
high minded body, arose from a peculation
of a more daring nature. The sum of twenty
thousand pounds, transmitted him b) his govern-
ment, as a compensation to Virginia for monies
expended by her beyond her proportion, remain-
ed unaccounted for in his hands, and he was de-
liberately and solemnly charged with having ar-
rested the stream of national bounty, and diverted
it to his own personal use and benefit. His rigor-
ous proceedings to La Force shew a bosom little
sensible of the sympathies of humanity ; while
his arrogant and contumelious deportment to
AY'ashington prove him as little attentive to the
feelings and duties of a gentleman.

THE administration of Blair commenced with
some appearance of activity. The several mea-
sures were iinnounced by proclamation In one
ail the officers of government were continued and
the assembly prorogued. By another permission
is given at desire of lord Louden to raise eight
hundred men within the colony. A third directs
the assembly to meet on the 3Uth of Mirch, in-
stead of the 30th of April, the day to which a
former proclamation had prorogued them.

THIS assembly, the most respectable* by its
talents and weight of character that had ever de-

* A list of representatives in assembly for the 'C-verat
Counties in Virginia, 1758.

Accomac, Edmund Allen, Thomas Pan-amore,

Mcntark, Alien Howard, WillLm Cabbtl. junr,

Jmetia, Edmund Booker, Richard

-jiugutita, John Wilson, Israel Christian,

Brunsiiick, Willium Thornton, Edward G

JSachariah Burnley, Samuel tla

224

HISTORY OF

CHAP.

III.

liberated in America, convened agreei^e *o
tiee, and were as usual addressed by th
representative. In the exordium of this achin ss,
the fears md passions of this body are dexterously

king's,

Caroline,
Charles

Culjieftcr,
Cumberland,

Elizabeth City,

Fairfax,

Frederick,

Gloucester^

Goor/iland,

Halifax^

Edmund Pendleton, John Baylor,
Benjamin Harrison, W Hiam Kcnnon, jur,
Archibald Cary, Richard Eppes,

George Covington, John Fleming,
Leonard Cjaiborne, junr. Robert Ruffinf
William Wager, John Tabb,
John Upshaw, Francis Waring,
George Mason, Gtorge Johnston,
Thomas B. Martin, George Washington^
J.i'nn Pa^e, Thomas Whiting,
R u ier Sk 1'on, John Paine,

Wade, Nathaniel Terry,

Louisa,

l^imenburg,

Middlesex,

JJanever,
JHenrico,
James City,
Isle of H iff/it,
Jfing Georg^
A*H? ond Queen,
JChig irilliam,

A'c-w Ktnt,
Norfolk*

Northumberland,
.Yorthamfiton,
C range,

Prince Edward,
J'rince George,
2'rince William,
J rincess Ann^
Richmond,
Southampton,

Nath. WestDmdridge, John Svrne,
William Randolph, Bowler Cocke,
]icniamin Wdlkr, Le is Hurwell,
James Bridger, Joseph I^iidger,
Charles Carter, Charles Carter, junr.
Joba R<;btnson^ George Braxton,
Peltr Robinson, Harry Games,
Charles Carter, William Ba 1,
Francis Lee, James Hamil -n,
Thomas Johnston, Thomas Walker^
Clement Read, Matthew Marrable,
Kalph Wormley, Thomas Price,
Lemuel Riddick, Wiili^ R'uldick,
Richard Adams, L wis Webb,
George Veal, JohnTatem,
Presley Thornton, Spencer B^l^
Littleton Eyre, John Kendall,

Peter Legrand, Charles Anderson^
Richard. Bland, Alexander Boiling,
Henry Peyton, Henry Lee,
Aiitho y Walke, jur.r. Thomas
J«;ha Woo*»bri lee, L :ndon Oxrter,
IV. j 'ii.in Syniiiions, Will'um TayloJ>

VIRGINIA. 225

assailed by the mention of a popish project for the CHAP.
destruction of civil and religious liberty upon ni
the earth, and the necessity of one great and "
common effort among the British provinces, for
defeating the intentions of the enemy, at least in
America, in attempting to accomplish this desi-
rable object, he said defensive war must be wholly
abandoned. He dwelt with particular emphasis
on his majesty's permission to him to issue com-
mistons to such gentlemen of weight as felt the
laudable ambition of serving their country, and
concluded by declaring his majesty's ex press com-
mands to him to pass but such laws only as were
actually necessary t\,r the peace and deft nee of the
province. The assembly, in their answer, re-
gret their inability to engage in offensive opera-
tions, but at the same time declare their willing,
ness to do all in their power for tix successful ac/*
complishment of an object of such peculiar iru
terest and urgency.

FRANCIS FAUQJJIER arrived on the 7th June, Francis
and having produced his commission of lieute Fauquier,
nant governor in the council and taken the usual S°vt:rnor'
Oaths of office, he issued a proclamation in which
all the officers of government were continued.
At the same time he dissolved the assembly, and

Stafford^ Thompson Ma^on, Thomas Lee,

Surry, William Clinch, Heartwell Cockc,

Sussex, John Edmunds, John Mason,

Warwick, W lliam Digqjs, William Harwood,

Westmoreland, Kichurd Lee, Richard Hmry Let,
York, Dudley DI^SS. R'-ber. C. trier Nicholas*

Co/If ge of William and Mary, George Wy: e,
Jamea Town, Edward Champion Travis,
Norfolk Borough, William Aitchison,
Willicinisburg, The Atiomey-generaU

2 e

226 HISTORY OF

CHAP. flJrrcted that a general election of burgesses
,. .' ] L should take place. This body having met by
piorogation, chose John Robinson lor their speak-
er r, and having presented him to the governor lor
his approbation, they petitioned by him thai they
might enjoy their ancient rights and privileges.

HITHERTO the vessel oi state had wandered
through a midnight and tempestuous sea, occa-
sionally directed b} flashes which shed a sudden
and portentous gleam. Ignorance sat at the helm,
and corruption filled the sails ; and nought but the
intrepid exertions of the crew had hithtrt osaved
the wreck from the shoals and quick sands : when
all at once a new light* appeared above the British
horizon more glorious than the star of the morning,
and the malignant influence of Bute^ sank beneath
its ascendant. As it reached its meridian, clouds,
and night, and tempest passed away, to lower and
rest on tht house oi Bourbon. 1 rom this moment
the national character became impressed with
images < i glory.

MEANWHILE the public attention became

stro» giy attracted to the operations against Du-

Sept. U. quesrce, the conquest of which had been decided

on as one oi the most important and necessan ka-

tures in the campaign.

THE troops, according to the original plan of
the campaign destined lor the reduction of this
fortrtSb, amounting to eight thousand men, were
appointee! to lendezvous at Uayscown. The ge-
neral himself, with as many regular^ troops as
could be spared irom the service ot the northern
department, proceeded irom Philadelphia on the
30lh of November. Colonel Bouquet, with a

* William Pitt.

f See Juniu*. •» When that noxious planet," kc.

VIRGINIA- 22;

body of two thousand men, had been previously CHAP,
dispatched as an advance, and from the outlet,
the utmost caution was used by choosing advan-
tageous posts, and establishing depots of provi-
sions and other necessaries to guard against a re-
currence of those disasters consequent on the
defeat at Monongahela.

PURSUANT to the orders of the commander in
chief, the Vi ginia troops moved in detachments
from Winchester to tort Cumberland. The
\vhole frontier of Pennsylvania and Virginia
swarmed with Indians, who emboldened by an
uninterrupted career of successful cruelty, hung
continually on the wings and rear of the mil a
body and the advanced guard, and continually
harassed the Virginia troops almost within sight
of Fort Cumberland.

THEIR first object after their arrival at Fort
Cumberland, was to open a road from that post
to Raystown, where colonel Bouquet was station-
ed. A question had arisen by what road the ar-
my should march. That by Kaystovvn and
Franks had been generally used by the Pennsyl-
vania and northern traders; the other led from
Wills Creek by the Little and Great Meadows,
and was denominated Braddock's. Both these
roads had their partisans, and it is not a little
curious that Bouquet should have decided in fa-
vour of Raystowi as leading directly fro-.u his
own state, whilst colonel Wdshin^toa vas equal-
ly solicitous that the army should inarch by the
Virginia route, with which he had been ucqu tint-
ed for many years. It is orobablethat these gtM-
tlemen, notwithstanding their zed for die siucess
of the expedition, judged more fro >i their lnf>its
than from any comparison of du-- advantages of
these roads. There is re^soa co believe tuac i

228 HISTORY OF

CHAP. quet never saw the road of Braddock, and colo*
_ nil Washington never that by Raystown. After
some consultation that by Raystown was prefer-
rtcl, to the great chagrin and disappointment of
c and Washington, who persisted to the last,
thi aigh ineffectually, in pointing out what he con-
ceived the disadvantages, and wh.tt he appre-
hrndtd would be the consequences of this reso-

His letters, detailing his arguments in support
of this opinion, discover a strong and vigorous
capacity, together with the faculty but rarely pos-
se ssed of setting the strong parts of his subject
in a striking point of view, and insisting on them
vi'h pc- iiiiar force. They contain at the same
tinu innuendos against the folly and arrogance of
men in power, and the blunders of th> ir agents in
t'is country, which will display the proud feeling
oi his own worth and a haughty defiance of au-
ti ority. But notwithstanding the ingenious man-
i>cr in which he has defended his opinion, there
is just reason to believe that he was wrong.

THE route of the main body of the army lay
through the whole extent of Pennsylvania. If the
rum) had assembled at Will's Creek, Braddock's
road had been incomparably superior; but as
yr^uers stood, to march by ihis route would have
added fifty miles to the distance. It was asserted
too with some appearance of reason, that the
Hay s^ow n road was less subject to an inundation
oi its' water courses, and abounded much less
\\iih difficult passes and defiles. The official let-
ters ol Braddock had described the face of the
country tin "U^h which he marched, " to lie across
n>oumains and rocks ol an excessive height, vastly
SKCJ* ai;d divided by toi rents and rivers." Such
til kitst is the opinion oi the ingenious historian

VIRGINIA; 229

er North America.* Speaking of Braddock he CH\P.
s ys, the general should have therefore certainly
landed in Pennsylvania, and the contract for sup-
pi\ing his troops should have been nude with
some ot the principal people there, who could
easily have performed their contracts; and hid
ht encamped at Frankstown or somewhere on the
south vve>t borders of that province, his roid to
>ort I uqutsne would have been more practicable
and fifty milt s nearer than b\ Will's Creek. Later
experience has fully justified the correctness of
this opinion.

THE different detachments of the army having
assembled at U ivstown, they proceeded slowly
on their march through a country hitherto little
known, rendered almost impassable by woods,
mountains and morassts, and continually haras-
std by the French and Indians. Colonel Bou-
quet with the same formidable guard, was atwa} s
kept a considerable distance in advance, for the
purpose of protecting the workmen employed in
miking the road, and in order to repress the in-
cursions ot the Indians. By incredible labour
the advance at length reached Loyal Hanning a
post, about fifty miles distant from Raystown,
\vhose advantageous site pointed it out as proper
for a fort. From this post major Grant was de-
tached with a chosen body of eight hundred men
to reconnoitre the country in the neighbourhood
of Fort Duquesne, and make such further ob-
servations of the strength of the enemy as would
facilitate the success ot the main operation:-. Dar-
ing the night he reached a hill near the foit
where his men were posted ii order of battle, and AH
a party of observation was advanced, who returned

• Wynne.

230 HISTORY OF

after having burnt a lo^ house near the WaUs*
The enduing morning Grant posted major Le". is
with a guard in hi* rear for the protection of the
baggage, and at the same time sent an engineer
with a covering p irt} to take a plan of the works
These things passed within full view of the fort,,
and as if the enemy were not sufficiently apprized
of his imprudence and temerity, the reveillez,
by orders of the commander, was beaten by all
the drums of the detachment in several places.

DURING the whole of this rash and arrogant

parade the fort did not fiie a single gun. Silence

Battle of reigned within those wails that formerly resound-

yul Han- C(j W^tj1 ljie 1Qur Qf cannon ancj the terrific din of

the war whoop. Thest delusive appearances hav-
ing confirmed the blind and fatal security of Grant,
on a signal given the gates of Fort Duquesne were
thrown open, arid multitudes of Indians at once set-
ting up the terrific scream of the war whoop, issued
forth and spread themselves according to custom
on the flanks ; whilst a chosen body of French re-
gulars proceeded in close order to the attack of
the advanced party. This being almost imme-
diately dissipated or destroyed, Grant arrived
with the main body, and a sanguinary encounter
took place similar in all respects to the fatal day at
Monongahela : the same obstinate adherence to
European tactics ; the same panic, and disorder,
and destruction of the troops ; the blind and obsti-*
nate presumption of the commander was the same,
differing only in the ultimate fate of the comman-
ders. For the gallant spirit who commanded at
Monongahela expiated his indiscretion by his
blood ; whereas the vain and boasting Grant
was spared to obliterate this disgrace at Loyal
Banning by his superior foily and imprudence in
the British .ieruto.

VIRGINIA. f31

AT the commencement of the action major CHAP.
Lewis hastened \vith the principal part of the ... ll ' • .
rear guard to the support of Grant, leaving be-
hind him fifty Virginians with captain Bulltt,
for the defence of the baggage. But their united
efforts were unavailing to stop the progress of the
enemy, who now confident of success left their
concealment, and proceeded to finish with the
tomahawk and scalping knife what had been left
undone by the ritle. A scene of brutal and fe-
rocious cruelty immediately commenced, which
the utmost efforts of the French were unable
to put a stop to. Irritated by the fate of several
of their countrymen during the battle, the Indi-
ans refused to give quarter and inhumanly but*
chered the English and provincials in the very act
of surrender. Majcr Grant, the author of all
these misfortunes, had barely time to save his
lite by giving himself up to a French officer, who
had the utmost difficulty in protecting him. The
bloody tomahawk was uplifted to strike, and the
angry glance of the savage dt mauded his victim;
but the Frenchman insisted on his promise and
the usages of civilized warfare. The life of the
gallant Lewis was exposed to greater and more
imminent peril, tie had been engaged for some
time with an Indian whose repeated blows he had
hitherto successfully parried. At length he was so
fortunate as to extricate himself by the death of
his enemy : But his place being immediately sup-
plied by others, he retreated until he reachtd a
French detachment to whose oftLer he surrender-
ed himself

AN universal rout now took place, and carnage Defeat ami
unresisted and marked by those shocking enor- ™ut of Bri-

mities which characterize Indian war. In this ex- tlsh ?nc! .

. . provincials,

igence Bullet, whose magnanimous spirit was

equalled only by his ioresight and collection.

232 HISTORY OF

took immediate measures for saving the princi-
pal part of the baggage, and if possible the re-
mains oi the dt tachment. Having dispatched the
most valuabk part oi the baggage with the strong-
est horses, he disposed the remainder at an ad-
vantageous point cl the icao, as a cover icr his
troops and rallied several of the fugitives as they
can it up. nware, from the character of the
enemy and their conduct during the engagement,
that no quarter was to be expected, he embraced
an expedient contrary to all the established laws
oi arms, and which under any other circum-
stances would have been wholly unjustifiable.
Having animated the courage of his followers by
a brief but expressive appeal to their character to
aiid circumstances, he directed them to fire with
precision until their enemies became too nume-
rous, when on a signal given they were to march
out with their .;rms as if demanding quarter.

ANIMATED by his example, the troops lite-
rally followed the order of their leader, and as
the Indians pressed on, a destructive fire unexpect- ,
t-dly opened from behind the bag-gage waggons,
which checked their career and threw them into
visible confusion ; but their numb TS increasing
every moment, and apprehensive that they would
attempt to get in his rear, Bullet held out the sig-
nal for capitulation. Jn a moment the detachment
in a suppliant position and with their arms invert-
ed, proceeded slowly towards the enemy, whose
impatience would hardly peimit them to wait the
form of a surrender. Already the tomahawk was
graspe d for toe purpose of vengeance, and the scalp-
ing knife thirsted to slake its fury in their blood
when the terrible woid c/iarge was uttered by Bui-
let, and was repeated by the whole detachment j a
n ;ost dcbtruct ive voll< y at only cii>ht yards distance
the ready execution, ui this order, uuei

VIRGINIA: 233

before the enemy could recover from the asto- CHAP.
nishment and terror excited by this procedure,
a furious onset with fixed bayonets effected a com-
plete discomfiture and route. The Indians ima-
gined from the fury of this onset that rhe whole
army Mas at hand, and never stopt till they reached
the French regulars.

BULLET having gained the respite wanted, and
rightly judging that to attempt any thing offen-
sively with his handful of men, would be only a
vain and desperate sacrifice, wisely continued
his retreat towards the main body, collecting as
he proceeded the wounded and terrified regulars
•who, ignorant of the cruntry, wandered up and
down without food, and haunted by incessant
terrors of the savages.

IN this fatal action twenty one officers and two
hundred and seventy. three privates were either
killed or taken. Of these the first Virginia regi-
ment lost six officers and sixty-two privates; no-
other corps, the Highlanders excepted, suffered in
the same proportion.

BUT great and serious as was the loss of men
wantonly sacrificed by the rashness of their com-
mander, it added another honourable wreath to
the brow of Virginia prowess. The cool and
steady valour of the provincials had a second
time saved from certain destruction the regular
troops. The merits of captain Bullet in particu-
lar were the theme of general and merited eu-
logy. Governor Fauquier who was an excellent
judge of merit, was olten in the habit of pro-
nouncing the retreat of Loyal Manning equal
to any thing of its kind in history ; and 'he ap-
pointment of Bullet to the rank of irujor would
justify an opinion that his promotion was the re-
ward of his conspicuous merit on this occasion.

2F

234 HISTORY OF

CHAP. MEANWHILE the main body of the army had
marched frorn Loyal Manning on the 13»h, fol-
lowed on the 17th by the general, who brought
up the rear with the whole of the artillery. Along
the whole route they were infested by small par-
ties of Indians, who were often daring enough
to fire into the camp, and often successful in tak-
ing scalps, and prisoners within the very view of
the army,

THE duty of guarding against and repelling
these dangerous and destructive incursions was
prudently committed to the provincials, a service
in which the Virginians, with colonel Washing-
ton, peculiarly distinguished themselves. In one
of these skirmishes at a short distance from Loyal
Manning, colonel Washington having defeated a
party oi Indians, took some of them prisoners :
Colonel Mercer of the second Virginia regiment,
having been detached to support him came up
about night, and having seen indistinctly the In-
dian prisoners, he concluded they were enemies
and fired. Under the influence of this fatal mistake
an engagement immediately commenced, which
was terminated only by the admirable judgment
and intrepid interference of the officers. The mis-
take wras detected by the sound of the musqucts:
It was known that Washington's men fired a bul-
let and two buck shot : fourteen men were killed
and wounded.

THE different bodies had again united and pro-
ceeded with the utmost circumspection towards
Fort Duquesne, in sight of winch the whole ar-
fny arrived in good order on the twenty, third,
and preparations immediately commenced for be-
sieging it in form.

THIS fort, celebrated as having given rise to
a most destructive war almost in every region
of the globe, was situated on a point of laud

VIRGINIA. 235

•ibrmed by the junction of the Monongahela with
the Ohio, and was by its real strength and inv
portance every way disproportioned to the exag-
gerated picture drawn by the fears and terrors
excited by repeated disasters. Every step taken
by the army from Loyal Manning contributed to
Jkeep alive those impressions. It was strewed
with human bones in various stages of decay,
mingled with those of horses and of oxen. As
they approached, the accumulations of whitened
bones and putrid bodies alternately pointed out
the melancholy defeat of Braddock and more re-
cent disaster of Grant. To within one hundred
yards of the wails, the remains of these disasters
extended as so many seeming proofs of the massy
strength of its ramparts, as terrible trophies of
the bravery of its garrison.

A NEARER and more accurate observation
pointed out the fallacy of this opinion. The face
of the fort, whose form was a polygon, extended
only one hundred and eighty feet ; and the effect
of a few shells demonstrated its utter iiicomne-
tency to resist a cannonade, even for a few hours.
A series of unsuccessful attacks convinced the
enemy that they couW no longer look for success
in the mistakes or blunders of the British, and
fear for the first time passed from their camp into
die walls of Fort Duquesne. The Indians, whose
notions of policy depend wholly o:i the prospect
of success, wavered in their attachment ; and se-
veral tribes having been previously gained, with-
drew from the defence of a post which the Great
Spirit was supposed to have devoted to destruc-
tion.

DETERMINED by these decisive warnings, the
French commander had for some time been pre-
paring for the evacuation of this interesting posi-

236 HISTORY OF

CH\P. tion, and from their posts on the Mississippi
TI1 and Ohio had collected canoes and batteaux for
the transportation of every thing valuable which
could be withdrawn. A variety of skilful manoeu-
vres were practised for the purpose of dividing
the attention of the British, and a feint was made
to call their attention to the safety of their rear,
which was menaced by small parties of Indians
who yet remained faiihful. Every thing at length
being ready, fire was communicated to various
combustibles disposed for the destruction of the
fort, which for the most part was constructed of
wood; whilst a mine sprung at the moment of
departure, completed the demolition of the fort-
ress. A short time after the explosion, colonel
Washington, with the advanced guard, entered
the fortress amidst the ruins still smoking, and
planted the British flag : But the enemy were be-
yond the reach of attack, having dropt down to
their settlements at Presqu'isle and Venango.

THUS in the third year of the war, after incre-
dible losses, dangers and humiliation, this fort
passed into the hands of the British without any
resistance ; and after receiving such repairs and
improvements as the nature of circumstances
would permit, was garrisoned by a party of pro-
vincials, and called Pittsburgh in honour of the
great stateman who now presided over the coun-
cils of Britain.

HAVING accomplished those necessary objects,
the army and their general were seized with the
tender and pious sentiment of discharging the
last sad duties to the remains of their country-
men, which lay scattered round the fort. Disfi-
gured, mutilated by wounds ^inflicted in battle,
or torn by birds and beasts of prey, they pre-
sented a spectacle horrible to the sight,

VIRGINIA; 237

iiil to the imagination ; whilst the masses of bare CHAP.
and whitened bones furnished a melancholy asso
ciation of remote and recent disasters. Nothing
could exceed the silent sublimity of feeling
amongst the victors as they walked through this
army of the dead : Now and then the silence was
broken by the exclamation of some veteran, who
had been present and had miraculously survived
those calamities. The bones and bodies were
collected with pious care, and buried in one com-
mon tomb ; the whole army from the general to
the lowest centinel assisting at the solemn cere-
mony..

THIS scene suggests a parallel situation in Ro-
man history, described by the masculine elo-
quence of Tacitus.

" NOT far hence lays tlie forest of Teutobur-
gium, and in it the bones of Varus and his le-
gions, by report still unburied : Hence Germa-
nicus became inspired with a tender passion to
pay the last offices to the legions and their leader :
the like tenderness likewise affected the whole
army. They were moved with compassion, some
for the fate of their friends, others for their rela-
tions, here tragically slain. They were struck
with the doleful casualties of war, and the sad
lot of humanity. Cce-:ina was sent before to ex-
amine the gloomy recesses of the forest, to lay
bridges over the pools, and upon the deceitful
marshes and causeways. The army entered the
doleful solitude, hideous to sight, hideous to
memory. First they saw the camp of Varus,
wide in circumference ; and the three distinct
places allotted to the different eagles shewed the
number of the legions : further they beheld the
ruinous intrenchment and the dit ;h nigh chouked
up ; in it the remains of the army were supposed

238 HISTORY OF

CHAP, to have made their last effort, and in it to

_ found their graves. In the open fields lay their
bones all bleached and bare, some separate, some
on heaps, just as they hud happened to fall, flying
for their lives or resisting unto death. Here were
scattered the limbs of horess ; there pieces of bro-
ken javelins, and the trunks of trees bore the skulls
of men. In the adjacent groves, were the savage
altars where the barbarians had made an horrible
immolation of the tribunes and principal centu-
rians. Those who survived die slaughter, hav-
ing escaped from captivity and the sword, re-
lated the sad particulars to the rest. " Here the
commanders of the legions were slain ; the«e we
lost the eagles : Here Varus had his first wound ;
there he gave himself another, and perished by his
own unhappy hand ; in that place too stood the
tribunal whence Arminius harangued ; in this
quarter, for the execution of his captives, he
erected so many gibbets ; in that, such a number
of funeral trenches were digged, and with these
circumstances of pride and despite he insulted
the ensigns and eagles." Thus the Roman army
buried the bones of three legions six years after
the slaughter.

" NOR could any one distinguish whether
he gathered the particular remains of a stranger
or those of a kinsman ; but all considered the
whole as their friends, the whole as their relations,
with heigthened resentments against the foe, at
once sad and revengeful : in this pious office, so
acceptable to the dead, Gerrnanicus was a part-
ner in the woe of the living, and upon the com-
mon tomb laid the first sod."

HAVING paid this sacred debt to the manes of
two armies, the general confirmed by new for-
malities the treaty ratified with the Indians at

VIRGINIA.

Kastoru* and having erected a Block house at
Loyal Harming, which he dignified with the ti-
tle of Fort Ligonier, he returned to Philadelphia,
THE capture of tills interesting fortress dif-

* This meeting, independent of the honourable William
D«nny, esq. lieutenant-governor; Lawrence Gordon, Wil-
liam Logan, Richard Peters, Lynn-Ford Lardner, Benja-
min Chew, John Mifflin, esquires, members of the gover-
nor'a council ; Isaac Morris, Joseph Fox, Joseph Galloway,
John Hughes, Daniel Roberdeau, Amos Strickland, esquires,
committee of the house ofr representatives; Charles Re.ui,
Jacob Spicer, esquires, commissioners for Indian affairs in
the province of New Jersey, and a number of magistrates of
this and the neighbouring province, and of the citizens of
the city ot Philadelphia, chiefly of the people caller Qua-
kers ; consisted of George Croghan, esquire, deputy agent,
for Indian affairs, under sir William Johnson.

Indians of several nations, viz.

Mohawks. Nichas, or Karaghudie, with one woman
and two boys, -- 4

Oneidoes. Thomas King, Anagaraghity, Avtanyquou*
with three warriors captains, six warriors and thi'ty-
three women and children, -....-.-45

Ononda^ots A saradonguas, with nine men and nine
women and ch.idren, 19

Seyugas. Tokaai on, with ei^ht men, and eleven wo-

Camen and children, -..--.--.- 20
neras. Taktaghsado, Taprashata, or Se^achafJon,
chief man, with seven oiHer chiefs, thirty-seven
other men, twenty-eight women, and several chil-
ren, in ail, 83

Tuscaroras. Unata, alias Jonathan, with five men,
twelve women and two children, ------ 20

Naut.icokes and Conovs. now one nation. Robert
White, alias \Volahocumv, Pashaamokas, alias
Charles, with sixteen men, twenty women and eigh-
teen children, -..-.---.-- 56
Kandt, ali<-s Last Night, with nine men, ten wo-
men and one child, 9*

Tuteloes. Cakanonekoanos, alias Big, Arm, Asswaga-
rat, with six men and three women - - - - U

240 HISTORY OF

CH^AP. fused a general joy throughout America, but
more especially through the provinces of Penn-
sylvania, Virginia and Maryland. It was offici-
ally announced to the assembly, which sat on the
22d ot February, and was urged as a new motive
for encreasing rather than abating the exertions
of the colony. He tells them that the remain-
der of the regimtnt agreeably to the best ad-
vice and information he had been able to collect,
had been stationed in the most proper and com-
modious lorts and posts in the several counties
of Hamshlre, Frederick and Augusta, and the
four companies of rargtrs in the counties of
Bedford and Halifax ; and that in Order to the
saving expense he had disbanded the militia

Chugnuts. Ten men and twenty women and children, 30

Chehohockes, alias Delawares and Unamies. Teedy-
uscung, with sundry men, women and children, - 60

Munsies, or Mmisinks. Egohohowen, with sundry
men, women and children, --.--.. 35

IMohickons. Abraham, or Mammatuckan, with seve-
ral men, women and children, - - - * - - 56

Wapings, or Pumtons Nimham, Aquaywochtu, viith
sundry men, women and children, in all, - - - 47

In all, 507

Conrad Weiser, esquire, provincial interpreter ; captain
Henry Montour, interpreter in the Six Nation and Dela-
ware languages; Stephen Calvin, Isaac Stille, Moses Tit-
tamy, Delaware Indians, interpreters in the Delaware lan-
guage.

** At a private conference with the Indians, on the 15th
of October, 1758, present governor Denny, his council and
the committee ot assembly, and governor Bernard and the
Jersey commissioners; chiefs ol tr.e Mohawks, Senecas
and Onoiidugoes ; chiefs of the Oneidoes, Cayugas, Tusca-
roras, Nanticockes or Conoys, and lutdcts

" Nichas, the Mohawk chief, stood up, and directing;
his discourse to both governors, said,

VIRGINIA. 241

IT will be proper in this place to take a curso- CHAP,
ry view of die military operations of this year in
the other colonies, there existing at this time
amongst them all, aft acknowledged identity of in-
terest together with a semi men t of common at-
tachment, arising out of their common clanger.

« Brothers,

4k We thought proper to meet you here, to have
private discourse about our nephew Teedyu-cung.

" You all know that he gives cm1., he is the great man and
chief often nations; this is his constant discourse. Now
I on behalf the Mohawks say, we do not know he is such a
great man If he is such a great man, we desire to know who
has made him so. Perhaps you have, and if this be the case,
tell us so. It may be the French have made him so. We
\vaui to inquire and knew whence his greatness arose.

" Tagashata on the behalf of the Senecas spoke next.
*' Brethren,

*' I, for my nation, say the same that Nichas has said;
I need not repeal it. I say we do not know who has made
Tcedyuscung this great man over ten nations ; and I want
to know who made him so

" Assarandonguas spoke next, on behalf of the Ononda.
goes.

* Brethren,

" I am here to represent the Onondagoes ; and I say for
them, that I never heard before now that Teedyuscung was
wurh a ^reat man, and much less can I tell who made him
so. No such thing was ever said in our towns, as that Tee-
tlyuscung was such a gre .t man.

" Thomas King sp^ke

* Brethren the governors, and att present,

u Take notice that I speak in behalf of five nations, who
have their deputies here present, viz. ?he Oaeidocs, Cayu-
^as, Tuscaroras, Nanticokcs and Coiioys, who have joined
together, and now make one nation, a id Tuteloes. W*
live are all connected together, and if any thin^ is said to
one of us, ii is com nunicatcd to all the rest.

" On their behalf I now tell you, we none of us know
who has made Teedyuscung such a great man; pehap^the
French have> or perhaps you have, or some among you, as

.2G

242 HISTORY OF

CHAP. THE army in America, under the command of
111 Abcrcrombie, amounted to fifty thousand men, of
" whom twenty. two thousand were regulars and
maiines. Independent of the eight thousand men
under \ orbes, destined for the capture of Fort
Duquesne. This army was disposed in the follow,
ing manner : — Twelve thousand under the com-
mand of general Amherst, were to. make an at.
tempt on Louisburg — whilst sixteen thousand
under the immediate direction of the commander
in chitf were reserved for the reduction oi Crown
Point.

Theac- THE reduction of Louisburg, being an object
o^r'ttons6 °^ immtcu'ate Consideration, was undertaken with
inThe other a^ posi*ible dispatch. On the 28th of May, gen.
states ista- Amherst tmbaiked his troops at Halifax, in No-
ken from __^

Wynne.

you have different governments, and are different people-
\\ e, tor i.w pails, tmirti) c iscwn that he has any awho-
rit) over us, and dtsiie to know from whence he derives his
authority. A belt.

Then governor Bernard spoke.

« Brethren of all the confederated nations,

"As you proposed your qut siion, concerning Teedyuscung
separately, I ihink it pioper to g,ve you a separate answer
theie'o.

" I know not who made Teedyuscung so great a man ;
nor do I know that he is any greater than a chief of the De-
lavare Ir.diens, settltd at \Vyomink. The title of king
couki not be givtn hm, by any English governor; for we
know very wtil, that theit is i>o sucli person among Indi-
ans, as what we call a king. And if we call him so, \vc
nitan no more than a Sachem or chief. I observe, in his
treaties, which he has held with the governors of Pennsyl-
vania (which 1 have perused since our laat meeting) he says
he was a v\on»an till you made him a man, by putting a
Ton.ahavk in his har.ci ; and through all of those treaties,
especially in tie last, held at this to\vn,he callsyou hisun-
cies, ana professes that he is dependent on you ; and I know
nn that any :hin^ has tince lu-ppcned to alter his relation
to you." 'I ihereiore -Consider him to be still your nephew.

VIRGINIA-

va-Scotia, and sailed for Louisburg, with the CHAP.
English squadron, consisting of twenty-one line
of battle ships, and twenty irigates, commanded
by admiral Boscawen, that had arrived from Eng-
land some time before; the whole fleet, including
transports, amounted to one hundred and fifty sail.
On the second of June, the fleet came safely to an
anchor in Gabarus Bay, about seven miles to the
westward of Louisburg. The garrison of this
place was composed of two thousand five hundred
regular troops, and three hundred militia, form-
ed of the burghers, under the command of the
Chevalier Drucour ; and, soon after the landing
of the English forces, the enemy was reinforced
by three hundred and fifty Canadians, including
sixty Indians. The mouth of the harbour was
guarded by six ships of the line and five frigates,
three of which were sunk across the harbour's
mouth, in order to render the passage impassable
to the English fleet. The governor had taken
every precaution in his power to prevent a land-
ing : he had drawn entrenchments in every part
where he supposed it possible to land, supported
them with batteries in convenient places, and lin*
ed them with a numerous infantry. But though
this chain of posts extended two leagues and an
half along the most accessible parts of the beach,
some spots still remained unfortified ; and on one
of these the English forces were disembarked.

UPON the fir^t appearance of the EnglrJi fleet,
the French gov< rnor, Drucour, sent out several
detatchments to observe their motions ; but gen.
Amherst, by sending several sloops under a
strong convoy, towards Lonmbec, beyond the
mouth of the harbour, drew the enem} 's attenti-
on to that part of the island, while a landing was
actually effected on the other side of the town, on
the eighth of June, under the command of bri-

HISTORY OF

gadier- general Wolfe ; several sloops and fngate%
having previousl}7 scoured the beach v» ith their
shot. The disembarkation, however, was attend-
ed with many difficulties, from a viclentsurf which
rolled impetuously on the beach, and a severe fire
of cannon and musquetry from the enemy, who
reserved their shot till the boats were alrr-rst close
to the shore. Wolfe, however, pursued his point,
\vith admirable courage and deliberation ; cr-d the
soldiers, though the fiie of the enemy did great
execution, and many boats were overset and broke
to pieces, supported and encouraged in all difficul-
ties, by the example, spirit, and conduct, of thtir
truly gallant commander, leaped into the water,
gained the shore, (the general himself being among
the first who landed), and fell upon the enemy
•with such order and resolution, that they soon
obliged them to fly in confusion. But the diffi-
culty of landing artillery and stores in boister-
ous weather, added to the nature of the ground,
\vhich, being marshy, was unfit for the convey,
ance of heavy cannon, retarded the operations of
the siege, which weie carried en with great cir-
cumspection by general Amherst.

THE first thing done was to secure a point called
the Lighthouse- Battery, from whence they rr-ight
play upon the French ships in the harbour, which
were capable ot bringing all their guns to bear up-
on the approaches of the besiegers, and on the
batteries on the other side of the harbour. Gen.
Wolfe performed this service with his usual con-
duct, activity, and bravery ; and took possession
of this and all the other posts in that quarter. —
His fire from this post, on the twenty fifth, silenc-
ed the island battery, which was that most imme-
diately opposed to his. In the interim, the be-
siegeel made several sallies, but with very little ef-
fect : but the ships in the harbour still continued

VIRGINIA. 245

to bear upon him, until the twenty- first of the CHAP.
following month, when one of them blew up, and _
communicating the fire to two others, they al
so were, in a short time, consumed to the water
edge. The regular approaches conducted by the
engineers, under the immediate command and
inspection of general Amherst, were now carried
on with vigour, and drew near the covered way,
and things were in a good condition to make a
lodgment on it ; the enemy's fire was considera-
bly slackened ; the town was consumed to the
ground, in many places ; and the works had suf-
fered much, in every part. Yet the enemy still
delrying to surrender, the admiral, who had, dur-
ing the whole siege, co-operated with the general
with remarkable harmony, cheerfully assisting him
with cannon and other implements, with detach-
ments of marines to maintain posts on shore, with
parties of seamen to act as pioneers, and assist in
working the guns and mortars ; notwithstanding
the severity of the weather, resolved on a stroke,
which, b) being decisive of the possession of the
harbour, migtit make the reduction of the town
a matter of little difficulty. He accordingly sent
six hundred seamen in boats, to take- or burn the
twro ships of the line which re my me d; and, if
successful in this attempt, he proposed the next
diV to send in some of his great ships, to batter
the town on the side of the hui bour. This scheme
was successfully execute el by captains Laforey and
Balfour, who entering the harbour, in the night
between the twenty-fifth and twenty sixth days of
the month, in spite of the fire iiom the Irench
ships and batteries, boarded them, sword in hard,
and made themselves masters cf both the ships ;
one of which was set on lire and destroyed, being
aground, but the other v.as towed out of the har-
bour in triumph.

246 HISTORY OF

THIS stroke, in support of the spirited endea-
vours of the land forces, was conclusive ; the
French governor, finding it impossible to stand an
assault, and divers practicable breaches being ef-
fecttd, capitulated on the next day, by which he
and his garrison became prisoners of war. Thus,
at the expence of about four hundred men killed
or wounded, the important island of Cape Breton,
and strong town of Louisburg, \vere taken ; in
which the victors found two hundred and twenty-
one pieces of cannon, and eighteen mortars, with
a very large quantity of stores and ammunition.
The inhabitants were sent to France in English
ships ; but the garrison, sea officers, sailors, and
marines, amounting, in the whole, to five thousand
six hundred and thirty seven, were carried prison-
crs to England.

As this island, and the town of Louisburg,
\vere of the greatest importance to France, and
the centre of their valuable fishery, a constant re*
pository for their privateers, who from thence in
great numbers infested the colonies, and the key
to their settlements on the continent of North-
America ; a description of both, while they re-
mained in the hands of the enemy, will not, we
hope, prove disagreeable to the reader, especially
as the island is now ceded to England, the fortifi-
cations demolished, and the strong forts and bat-
teries rendered a confused heap of ruins.

THE town of Louisburg, in the island of Cape
Breton, was situated in the latitude of 45 deg. 50
min. north, and 58 deg. J5 min. west, of the me-
ridian of London. It was of a middling size;
the houses of wood, on stone found, itions, which
were carried about six feet above the ground. —
The town was walled, and extremely well fortifit d
in the modern manner : there was, indeed, one
part without any wall, fora about an hundred yards ;

VIRGINIA. £4

but it would have been here ^quite unnecessary, CHAP.
the sea flowing close to the town, and therefore IIJ<
apallisadoe was judged a sufficient defence, hven
small baiks could not approach it, for want of a suf-
ficient de pth of water ; and ships were obliged
to keep ata very considerable distance, on account
of rocks and shoals. Besides, there were two
collateral bastions, which flauked this part very
advantageously. In the centre of one of the chief
bastions was a strong building, with a moat on
the side towards the town, which was called the
citadel, though it had neither artillery nor a struc-
ture proper to receive any : the entrance to it, indeed ,
was over a draw- bridge ; on one side of which
was a corps de garde, and advanced centinels on
the other. Within tnis building were the apart-
ments for the governor, the barracks for the gar-
rison, and the arsenal ; and under the platform of
the redoubt, a magazine, always well furnished
with military stores. The parish church also
stood within the citadel ; and without it was ano-
ther, belonging to the hospital of St. Jean de Dieuv
an elegant, spacious structure, though founded
long since,

THE harbour is large and safe, but the entrance
very narrow ; being confined between an island,
on which was a strong fort, and the opposite side,
where was a very high tower, made use of as a
light house. Here was a large fortification, called
the Royal Battery, whl;h defended the mouth of
the harbour ; and beyond it another fort, built far-
ther within the harbour. From this fort the coast
winds inward, and forms a large bay, with a good
depth of water, defended from all winds ; and here
the large vessels were laid up in winter ; but in sum-'
mer they anchored before the town, at about a
quarter of a league distance; though smaller ships
might come within, a cable's length of the shore,

248 HISTORY OF

CHAP, and lie quiet from all winds except the east, which
blow s right into the harbour's mouth.

THE entrance of the harbour is very safe, there
being only one rock, which is underwater ; but
the sands near it are dry. In winter, however,
the hai bour is entirely frozen over : that season
begins here towards the end of November, and
lasts till May or June. Sometimes the frosts set;
in sconer, and are more intense ; it not being un-
common for the harbour to be wholly frozen over
in October.

THE island produces a great quantity of timber -
paiticularly oaks of a prodigious size, pines fit
ior masts, cedar, ash, plane-trees, andaspins. and
contains excellent coal-mines. The great length,
and intense cold, of the winters, being a great im-
pediment to agriculture, the inhabitants made
fishing their sole Occupation j and their example
\vas followed by the inhabitants of St. John's, a
small adjacent island in the gulphof St. Laurence,
which submitted immediately, upon the reducti-
on of Louisburg.

IN the mean time, the military operations on
the continent were carried on with equal vigour.
The forces under the immediate conduct of gen >
Abercrombie, consisting of near seven thousand
regular troops and ten thousand Provincials, em-
barked, in the beginning of July, on the Lake
George, in the neighbourhood ot Lake Champiain,
on board of nine hundred batteaus, and one him.
dred and thirty. five whale boats, with provisions,
artillery, and ammunition j several pieces of artil.ery
bt ing mounted on n.i'isio cover the intended land-
ing, which was tfftcu d wiihout opposition. The
general then formed his troops into three columns,
and marched against Ticondero^a, a fort, situated
on ;\ point of land between Lake George and a.
narrow jut communicating with Luke. Champlain,-

VIRGINIA. $49

secured by a morass in front, and on the other CHAP.

three sides surrounded with water. ?_!!:_

THE enemy's advanced guard fled on his ap-
proach, with a great precipitation, deserting a
logged camp, after having burnt their tents, &c»
The country tor as all a thick wood, thro' which the
English forces continued their march, but found
it impassable, with any regularity, for such a bo-
dy of men ; and the guides proving extremely
unskilful, the troops were bewildered, and the
columns broken, felling in one upon another. — -
Lord Howe, at the head of the right centre * co-
lumn, fell in with a party of French regulars, of
about four hundred men, who had lost their way
in their retreat from their advanced post : a skin*
mish ensued, in which the enemy weie routed,
with considerable loss ; one hundred and forty -
• eight being taken prisoners , including five officers*
This trifling advantage was dearly bought with
the loss of lord Howe, who fell in the beginning
of the action, unspeakably regretted ; having dis-
tinguished himself, in a peculiar manner, by his
courage, activity, and rigid observation of mili-
tary discipline, and acquired the esteem and love
of the soldiers by hib generosity, sweetness of
manners, and engaging address. The troops
weie now so greatly latigued and disordered, from
want of rest and refreshment, that general Aber-
crombie thought it adviseable to march back to
the landing place. As soon as the men were re-
covered from their fatigue, lieutenant-colonel Brad*
street was detached with a regiment of regulars,
six companies of Royal Americans, and a body
of Rangers, to take possession of a saw- mill in
the neighbourhood of Ticondcroga, which
•feecn deserted by the enemy.

250 HISTORY OF

CHAP. ABERCROMBIE having secured this post, ad-
_ vanced to Ticonderoga, where the enemy had
made a very strong line, upwards of eight feet
high, on that part of the front where the morass
failed, defended by cannon, and near six thousand
men, including Canadians and Indians. A great
number ot felled trees, with their branches out-
M'ard, were spread before the entrenchment, which
projected in such a manner as to lender it almost
inaccessible.

NEVERTHELESS, the engineer who was sent
to reconnoitre the place, made so favourable a re-
port of the entrenchment, that it appeared practi-
cable to force it by musquetry alone ; and, in con-
sequence thereof, the fatal resolution was taken
not to wait the arrival of the artillery, which
could not be easily brought up, on account
of the badness of the ground ; but to attack the
enemy, without loss of time. The general was
confirmed in this precipitate resolution, by the
account he received from his prisoners, that a bo-
dy of three thousand men, under Mons. de Levy,
were on their march to join the enemy, and were
very shortly expected to arrive. This officer had
been eletached to make an irruption through the
pass of Oneyada, on the Mohawks River, but
had been recalled, before he could execute this
design, upon intelligence of general Abercrom-
bit's approach to Ticonderoga*.

WHEN the attack began, the strength of the
enemies' lines, which had been so little foreseen,
was but too severely felt. Though the troops
behaved with the utmost spirit and gallantry, they

* Brigadier Stanwix was afterwards sent thi'her, with a
considerable body of Provincials ; and this important pass
secured by a fort built at that juncture.

VIRGINIA. 2

suffered so terribly in their approaches, and made CHAP
so little impression on the intrenchment, that the
general seeing their repeated and obstinate efforts
fail of success, (being upwards of four hours ex-
posed to a most terrible fire from the enemy, who
were so well covered, that they could with the
greatest deliberation direct their fire without the
least danger to themselves), thought it necessary
to order a retreat. The army retired unmolested
to their former camp, to the southward of Lake
George, the evening after the action, with the loss
of about eighteen hundred men, killed or wound-
ed, including a great number of officers. Every
corps behaved on this unfortunate occasion, with
the greatest intrepidity ; but the greatest loss was
sustained by lord John Murray's highland regi-
ment, of which above half of the private men, and
twenty-five officers were either killed or despe-
rately wounded.

To repair this misfortune, general Abercrom-
bie detached colonel Bradstreet with three thou-
sand Provincials, against Fort Frontenac, situated
on the north side of the river St. Laurence, where
it takes it rise from the Lake Ontario. The co-
lonel had some time since formed a plan for mak-
ing himself master of this place ; he according-
ly, after having surmounted great difficulties, pe-
netrated with his army, to the eastern bank of the
Lake Ontario, where embarking on board several
sloops and batteaus, provided for that purpose, he
landed within a mile of Fort * rontenac, the gar-
rison of which, consiting of one hundred and ten
men and a few Indians, surrendered at discretion
in less than two days after it had been attacked,
without the loss of a single man on our side. —
The fort itself was inconsiderable and badly con-
structed, being only a square of one hundred
yards ; and thci-gh it contained sixty cannon, on-

252 HISTORY OF

ly half of them were mounted, and sixteen small
moitars. Nine armed sloops were taken and
burnt, and an immense quantity of provisions
and merchandize, designed for their troops on the.
Ohio, and their garrisons to the southward and
westward. The fort poorly fortified and weakly
gairioiied for a post of such importance, being
the magazine for all their western and southern,
garrisons and Indian allies, was demolished^
agreeable to general Abercrombit's instructions.
Colonel Bradstreet having performed this impor-
tant service, returned safely to Oswego. This
was a severe blow to the cm my, whose troops to
the southward were now in danger of starving ;
but it is not easy to conceive the general's reason
for giving orders to abandon a post so strong by
nature, that ii it had been properly iortifkd and
garrisoned, and the vessels preserved and kept
cruising on the lake, it might have rendered the
English masters of Lake Ontario, and have ter-
ribly harrasscd the cr.tmj , both in their com-
merce and expeditions to the westward.

THE ensuing campaign was fraught with events
and consequences still more important ; as the
capture of Ticonderoga, had considerably facilitat-
ed the operations against Fort Duquesne ; so the
possession of this fortress added to the reduction
oi Louisburg, and prepared the way for the final
success of the Biitish and American arms.

A CCOBIHNG to the plan of operations now de-
cided on, the different expeditions were planned
in such a manner as to assist each other. Gen^
\Voife, who had so eminently distinguished him-
self at the siege of Loui^burg, was to proceed
up the river St. Laurence as soon as the naviga-
tion should be irct from ice, v.iiha body of eight
thousand men, and a strong squadron of ships
Irom England, to besiege Quebec, riiv capital of

VIRGINIA; 253

Canada. General Arnherst, the corntmnder tn CHAP-
chief, at the head ot twelve thousand troops, was -

to reduce Ticonderoga and Crown Point, then
cross Lake Champlain, and proceeding along the
banks of the river Richlieu, to the river St. Lau-
rence, join general Wolfe before Quebec. Bri-
gadier-general Prideaux with a third body of
troops, assisted by a considerable number of In-
dians, assembled by the influence aid urder the
command of sir Wiiliam Johnson, had orders to
attack the French fort near the falls of Niagara,
which commanded in a manner all the interior
p:\rts of Ncrth America, aid was a key to the
\\ hole continent. /\s soon as !his fort was carried,
the general was to embark on the L ike Ontario,
fall down the river to St. Laurence, make him-
self master of Montreal, and then join general
Amherst. General Stanwix commanded a smal-
ler detachment for reducing the forts on ihe Ohio,
and scouring the banks of the Lake Ontario. It
was imagined hat if general Prideaux 's scheme,
in addition to its own end, should not facilitate
either of the other two capital undertakings, it
would probably, as Niagara was the most impor-
tant place the French had in that part of the world,
make them draw together all the troops they hid
upon the lakes, to attempt its relief, which would
leave the forts on those lakes exposed. In reality
it had that effect.

GENERAL AMHERST proceeded i mmediately
to execute his part of the operations, arcl by a
course of bold arid skilful mai.ceuvres, succeed-
ed in gainii.g passession of the important posts of
Tieoiidtroga and Crown Point, which the enemy,
after a shew of resistance, hastily abandoned at
his approach. having secured a superiority
on the lakes, heemplo\td himstlt 'in -strengihrn-
the ibrtificatiuri at Cro'.vu Puiiu, in opening

254 HISTORY OF

CHAP, roads of communication between Ticonderoga,
n* and the provinces of New- Hampshire and Mas-
sachusetts bay, and in making dispositions for
wintering his troops, so as to afford an adequate
protection to the back colonies.

DURING these operations, which had employ-
ed the greatest part of the summer, the fate of the
young hero, who had inarched against Quebec,
was wholly unknown, and the public anxiety was
in the utmost suspense for the fate of an expe-
dition carried on at such a distance, in the centre
of the French power, and where either victory or
defeat, must in their const quences have been de-
cisive.

His communication remained open with gen.
Prideaux, and by him he was informed of the
defeat of the French army by general Johnson
in sight of Niagara, and the consequent surrender
of that important fortress. But notwithstanding
this success, his progress was opposed by nu-
murous and formidable difficulties ; and it re-
quired all his gallant and adventurous courage,
together with his skill and address, to sustain the
part allotted him, in a plan so vast that the dis-
tinct parts could scarcely co-operate effectually
with each other,

THE fleet destined for this expedition, sailed
from England in the middle of February, under
the command of the admirals Saundersand Holmes,
who had both given evident proofs of their con-
duct and courage in the service of their country.
By the 21st of April they were in sight of the
island of Cape Breton ; but the harbour of Lou-
isburg was blockaded up with ice in such a man-
ner, that they were obliged to bear away for Ha-
lifax in Nova Scotia. From hence rear admiral
Durell was sent with a small squadron up the ri-
ver St. Laurence, as f«tr as the Isle de Coudres,

VIRGINIA; 255

in order to intercept any supplies that might be
sent from France to Quebec. He took three small
ships, besides some small craft, laden with flaur
and other provisions; but had the mortification
to find, that the frigates., and the transports, load-
ed with provisions, had already reached that city ;
and having taken possession of the island de Cau*
dres, proceeded to the Isle of Orleans. Meajv-
\\ hile, admiral Saunders arrived at Louisburg ;
and the troops being embarked, which did not
exceed seven thousand men, regulars and provin-
cials, though the original plan intended, nine
thousand for this expedition, exclusive of those
under general Amherst, (whose assistance on the
occasion was taken for granted) proceeded up the
river St. Laurence without further delay. The
land-forces were commanded by major-general
Wolfe, whose military abilities had shone with
su :h superior lustre at the siege of Louisburg ;
and under him were the brigadiers Monckton,
Townshend, and Murray.

THE whole embarkation arrived in the latter
end of June at the Isle of Orleans, about two
leagues below Quebec, a large fertile island, about
twenty miles in length, and between seven and
eight in breadth, well cultivated, producing plen-
ty of grain, and populous, without any accident
whatever, notwithstanding the reports of the dan-
gerous navigation of the river St. Laurence, pro-
bably spread for political purposes. This island
extends almost quite up to the bason of Quebec,
its most westerly point advancing towards an high
point of land on the continent, called Point Levi.
These two points shut up the view of the north*
ern and southern channels, which environ the Isle
of Orleans; so that the harbour of Quebec ap-
pears to be a bason land locked upon all sides.
The possession of both these points was there*

256 HISTORY OF

CHAP, fore absolutely necessary, as they might be em-
ployed either with gnat advantage against the
tew n, or much to the annojance of the besiegers ;
for whilst the enemy continued masters of those,
it was impossible for a ship to lie with safety in
the harbour oi Quebec. General Wolfe no soon-
er landed on this island than he distributed a
manifesto amoi g the inhabitants imparting, that
the kii.g his master, justly exasperated against
France, had set on foot a considerable armament
by land and sea, to humble the pride of that
crown, and was determined to reduce the most
considerable French settlements in America. He
declared, ii was not against the industrious pea-
sants and their families, nor against the ministers
of religion, that he designed to make war : on the
contrary, he lamented the misfortunes to which
they must be exposed by the quarrel, offered them
his protection, and promised to maintain them
in their temporal possessions, as well as in the free
exercise of their religion, provided they would
remain quiet, and take no part in the difference
between the two crowns, directly or indirectly;
He observed, that the English being now mas-
ters of the river St. Laurence, all succours from
Europe must be intercepted ; and that they had
besides, a powerful army on the continent, under
the command of general Amherst. He affirmed,
that the resolution the Canadians ought to take
was neither difficult nor doubtful -} as the utmost
exertion oi their valour would be useless, and
only serve to deprive them of the advantages
which they might reap from their neutrality. He
reminded them, that the cruelties exercised by
the French on the subjects of Great-Britain in
America, would excuse the most severe reprisals j
but Englishmen were too generous to follow such
buibarous examples. He again offered them the

VIRGINIA- 25

sweets of peace, amidst the horrors of war, and c^p«
left it to themselves to determine their own fate.
But whatever resolution they might take, he flat-
tered himself the world would do justice to his
conduct, which should be regulated by the strict-
est rules of justice. He concluded with laying
before them, the strength and power as well as
generosity of England, which thus humanely
stretched out her hand to them ; a hand ready to
assist them on all occasions, even when France,
by her weakness, incapable of assisting, abandon-
ed them in the most critical moment.

THIS humane manifesto produced no effect;
the Canadians thought they could place no de-
pendance on the promises and sincerity of a na-
tion, whom their priests had industriously repre-
sented as the most savage and cruel enemy on
earth. Possessed with these notions, which pre-
vailed even among the better sort, they chose to
abandon their habitations, and expose themselves,
and their families, to certain ruin, by provoking
the English with the most cruel hostilities, rather
than remain quiet, and confide on the general's
promise of protection. Instead of such a pru-
dent conduct, the Canadians joined the scalping
parties of Indians, who skulked among the woods,
and falling on the English stragglers by surprize,
murdered them with the most inhuman barbarity ;
so that Wolfe, whose generous nature revolttd
against such wanton and perfidious cruelty, after
having in vain expostulated on this head with the
French general, was obliged to connive at some
retaliations, in order to intimidate the enemy, and
effect by punishment, what the lenient hand of
kindness had attempted in vain.

THE conduct of Montcalm, the French com-
mander in chief, did honour to his judgment;
2 I

25S HISTORY OF

though his army was greatly superior to that of
the English, he carefully avoided an engagement
and prudently resolved to depend on the natural
strength of the country, which seemed almost
unsurmountable. The city of Quebec was strong,
ly fortified, secured with a numerous garrison, and
plentifully supplied with provisions and ammuni-
tion. The troops of the colony were reinforced
with five regular battalions, formed of the princi-
pal inhabitants j all the Canadians in the neigh*
bourhoocl capable of bearing arms, and several
tribes ot Indians, were completely disciplined ;
and with this army Montcalm took the field, and
incamptd in a very advantageous situation, along
the shore of Beaufort, between the river St.
C hailt-s, and a bank ot sand of great extent, which
prevents any considerable vessel from approach-
ing the shore, in his front, and thick impenetra-
ble woods on his rear. There never was a stronger
post ; it was impossible to attack him in it, and
whilst he remained there it was in his power to
throw succumb into the city whenever he pleased.
WOLFE saw all the difficulties that must attend
his undertaking the siege of Quebec, almost in-
accessible by its situation, and defended by a su-
perior army ; but he knew at the same time, that
he should always have it in his power to retreat,
while the English squadron maintained its station
in the river j nor was he without hopes of being
joined by general Amherst. Receiving advice,
that a detachment of the enemy, with a train of
artillery, was posted at Point Levi, on the south
shore, oppose the city of Quebec .he determin-
ed to daslodge them before they had intrenched
themselves. Accordingly he detached brigadier
!:K-n v.ith four battalions, who passed the
river in the night ; and next morning, after a
ikirnmh with some of the enemy's irregu-

VIRGINIA.

krs, obliged them to quit that post, which was
immediately occupied by the English*. At the
same time colonel Carleton, wirh another detach,
ment, took possession of the western point of the
isle of Orleans, and both posts were directly for.
tified, in order to anticipate the enemy, who, as
has been already observed, if they had kept pos-
•ession of either, might have rendered it impos-
sible for ships to lie at anchor within two miles of
the city. Besides, Point Levi was within cannon,
shot of the city ; a battery of cannon and mor-
tars was of course immediately erected there,
Montcalm, foreseeing the effect of this battery
detached a body of sixteen hundred men across
the river, to attack and destroy the works before
they were compleated : but the attempt miscar-
ried. The battery being finished without fur-
ther interruption, a continual fire was kept up
against the city with such success, that in a little
time the upper town was considerably damaged,
and the lower town reduced to an heap of rub*
bish. In the mean while the fleet, one division
of which, under admiral Saunders, was stationed

* Mons. Montcalm foresaw the great advantages thst would
result to us over their capital, from being possessed of Point
Ltvi ; and proposed, before the English armament came up
the river, that four thousand men should be strongly en-
trenched here, with some cannon, and that other wot ks should
also be constructed higher up the country, at ceiuin distan-
ces, for the troops to retire to, in case their lines should he
carried at the Point. But Mons. Vaiidreuil over-ruled this
proposal in a council of war, and insisiec, that though we
might demolish a tew insignificant houses with fehcjfs, yet
we could not bring cannon to bear upon Quebec across the
river ; and was firmly of opinion, that it wai ihtir duty to
stand upon the defensive, with theii whi.Iearrm on the i < ,rlh
tide of the bason, and noidir'de ihcir force en any account

GO HISTORY OF

CHAP, below in the north channel of the Isle of Orleans,-
opposite to Montmorenci ; the other under acU
miral Holmes, above the town, at once to divert
the enemy's attention, and to prevent any attempts
against the batteries that played against Quebec „
suffered great damage from a storm, which blew
vyith such violence, that many of the transports
ran foul of one another and were driven on shore,
a number of small craft and boats foundered, se-
veral of the flat- bottomed boats were rendered
unfit for farther service, and divers large ships
lost their anchors. The enemy, in order to take
advantage of the confusion which they supposed
this disaster must have occasioned, at midnight,
sent down five fire ships and two rafts to destroy
the fleet. The scheme, though well contrived,
was happily defeated by the prudence of the En-
glish admiral, and the resolution and alertness of
the sailors, who resolutely towed the fire ships
and rafts fast aground, where they lay burning to
the water's edge, without doing the least damage
to the English squadron. A second attempt of
this kind was made on the very same day of the
succeeding month, which proving equally ineffec-
tual, the French general thought proper to lay
aside his design.

A i soon as the works for securing the hospital
and stores were finished, the English forces cros-
sed the river St. Laurence in boats, and landing
under the cover of two sloops, encamped on the
side of the river Montmorenci with a view of pass-
ing that river, and bringing the enemy to an en-
gagement. The.nezt morning a party of rangers,
posted in a wood to cover some fascine makers,
were attacked by the French Indians, and defeat-
ed ; but the nearest troops advancing, the enemy
were in thrir turn repulsed with considerable loss.
The reasons that induced general Wolfe to choose

VIRGINIA. 961

this situation by the falls of Mon^morenc", m CTTAP.
which he was separated from Quebec by thisu :l .
another river named St. Charles, were, that the
ground which he had chosen was high, ar 1 in
some measure commanded the opposite side where
the enemy was posted : that there was a ford be-
low the falls passable every tide for some hours
at the latter part of the ebb and beginning of the
flood ; and he was in hopes that means might be
found to pass the river higher up, so as to fight
Mons. Montcalm on less disadvantageous terms
than directly attacking his intrenchmcnts. Ac-
cordinglv, on reconnoitering the river Montmoren-
ei, a ford was discovered about three miles above;
but the opposite bank, which was naturally steep
and covered with woods, was rendered so strong
by intrenchments, as to be almost inaccessible.
The escort was twice attacked by the French In-
dians, who were both times repulsed ; these skir-
mishes cost the English about forty men killed
and wounded, including officers. Wolfe there-
fore deferred his intended attack on the French
army, till he had surveyed the river St. Laurence
above Quebec, in hopes of discovering a place
more favourable for a descent.

ACCORDINGLY, the admiral, at his request, on
the 18th of July, sent two men of war, two sloops,
and some transports, with troops on board, up the
river ; and they passed the city of Quebec, with-
out sustaining the least damage. The general
being himself on board this little armament, care-
fully observed the banks on the side of the ene-
my, which were extremely difficult from the na-
ture of the ground, and the works of the enemy.
Though a descent seemed impracticable between
the city and Cape Rouge, where it was intended,
general Wolfe, in order to divide the enemy's
force, and procure intelligence, sent a detachment.

562 HISTORY OF

under colonel Carleton, to land higher up at Point
au Tremble, where he had been informed a good
number of the inhabitants of Quebec had retired
with their most valuable effects. This service
was performed with little loss, though the colonel
at landing met with some opposition from a bo-
dy of Indians : several prisoners were brought
off, but no magazine was discovered.

THE general, thus disappointed in his expec-
tations, returned to Montmorenci, where Briga-
dier Townshend had, by maintaining a superior
fire across the river, prevented the enemy from
erecting a battery, which would have command-
ed the English camp ; and now resolved to at-
tack the French army, though posted to great
advantage.

As the men of war, for want of a sufficient
depth of water, could not come near enough to
the enemy's entrenchments, to annoy them in the
least, the admiral prepared two flat bottomed arm-
ed vessels, which might on occasion be run
aground to favor a descent. With the assistance
of these vessels, Wolfe proposed to make him-
self master of a detached redoubt near the water
edge, situated, according to all appearance, out of
musquet shot of the enemy's entrenchments on
the hill. If the French supported this work it
must necessarily bring on an engagement, a cir-
cumstance which he earnestly wished for ; and if
they tamely beheld its reduction, he would have
it in his power to examine their situation at leisure,
so as to be able to determine where they might be
attacked with the greatest prospect of success.
Preparations were accordingly made for the at-
tack ; oil the last day of July, in the forenoon,
the boats of the fleet were filled with grenadiers,
and part of Brigadier Monckton's brigade from
Levi. The two brigades under Brigadiers

VIRGINIA. 265

Townshcnd and Murray were drawn out, in or- CHAP,
der to be ready to pass the lord, when judged Iir-
necessary. To facilitate their passage, the admi-
ral stationed the Centurion, of fifty- four guns, in
the channel, to check the fire of the lower battery,
which commanded the ford : a numerous train
of artillery was placed upon the eminence, to en-
filade the left of the enemy's entrenchments, and
the two armed vessels prepared for this purpose
were run aground near the redoubt, to favour the
descent of the forces. The manifest confusion
produced among the enemy by these previous
measures, and the fire of the Centurion, which
was well directed and sustained, determined the
general to storm this intrenchment without fur-
ther del;,;*.

AT a proper time of tide the signal was made ;
but in rowing towards the shore, many of the
boats from Point Levi ran aground upon a ledge
that runs oS* a considerable distance from the
ihore ; and this accident occasioned so much time
:o be lost in remedying the disorder, that Wolfe
\vas obliged to stop the march of brigadier Towns-
hend's corps, which he perceived to be in motion.
In the mean time, the boats were floated a.'id
ranged in proper order, though exposed to a .^-
vere fire of shot and shells ; and the general in
person, assisted by several sea o Seers, sounding
the shore, pointed out the place where the troops
might land with the least difficulty. Thirteen
companies of granadiers, and two hundred men
of the second Royal American battalion, \verc
the first on shore, and obliged the enemy to aban-
don the redoubt below the precipice. They had
received orders to form in four distinct bodies,
and begin the attack, supported by brigadier
Monckton's corps, as soon as the other troops
•houid have passed the foid, and be near enough

264 HISTORY OF

to contribute their assistance. But unfortunately
the grenadiers, impatient to acquire glory, with-
out waiting for any reinforcement, or forming
themselves as directed, in great confusion ran up
the hill, and made many efforts to gain the sum-
mit, which they found less practicable than had
been expected : in this situation they received a
general discharge of musquetry from the enemy's
breast works, which was continued without any
return ; our brave soldiers reserving their fire, un-
til they should reach the top of the precipice,
"which was inconceivably steep : to persevere any
longer they now found was to little purpose, their
trdour was checked by the repeated heavy fire of
the enemy, which did such execution among them,
that at length they were obliged to retire in dis-
order, and shelter themselves under the redoubt
which the French had abandoned at their ap-
proach. The general seeing the situation of af-
fairs, night drawing on, and the ammunition of
the army damaged by a most dreadful storm, or-
dered them to retreat and form behind Monck-
ton's brigade, which was by this time landed and
drawn upon the beach, in good order. They ac-
cordingly retreated, leaving a considerable num-
ber lying on the field exposed to the barbarity of
the Indians. The enemy did not attempt to pur-
§ue ; so the whole repassed the river without
molestation, and returned to their former camp at
Montmorenci.

THE two armed vessels, which were aground,
were burnt to prevent their falling into the ene-
my's hands. The loss of our forces this day,
killed, wounded, and missing, including all ranks,
amounted to fcur bundled and fort) -three, among
whom were two captains and two lieutenants killed
011 the spot ; colonel Burton of the forty-eighth

VIRGINIA. £

regiment, six captains, nineteen lieutenants, and CHAP.
three ensigns wounded.

THE general, immediately after • this mortify,
ing check, detached brigadier Murray, with twelve
hundred men, in transports, above the town, to
co-operate with admiral Holmes, whom admiral
Saunders had sent up the river, to destroy the
French ships if possible. The brigadier wa's also
instructed to sicze evtry opportunity of fighting
the enemy's detachments. In pursuance of these
directions, he twice attempted to land on the
north shore ; but these attempts were unsuccess-
ful : his third effort was more fortunate ; he mzide
a descent at Cham baud, and burned a considera-
ble magazine, filled with arms, cloathing, provi-
sions, and ammunition. By the prisoners he
learned that Fort Niagara had surrendered ; and
discovered by intercepted letters, that the enemy
having abandoned Ticonderoga and Crown Point,
were retired to Isle an Noix ; and that gen. Am-
herst was making preparations to pass Lake
Champlain, and attack the corps commanded by
Mons. BourLemaque. The enemy's ships being
secured in such a manner as not to be approached,
and nothing else occurring that required the bri-
gadier's longer stay, he returned to the camp at
Point Levi.

BUT this intelligence, otherwise so pleasing,
brought no prospect of any assistance from that
quarter. The season wasted apace. The general
fell violently ill, from care, watching, and fatigue,
too great to be supported by a delicate constitu-
tion, and a body unequal to the vigorous and en-
terprizing soul that it lodged. His own high no-
tions, the public expectation, the success of other
commanders, oppressed his spirits, and convert-
ed disappointment into disease. During his ill-
2K

26$ HISTORY OF

ness he desired the general officers to consult to-
gether for the public utility ; and it was their
opinion that any farther attempts at Montmorenci
were to little purpose ; and that the points Levi
and Orleans being left in a proper state of defence,
the rest of the troops should be conveyed up the
river, and the future principal operations should
be above the town, in order, if possible, to draw
the enemy to an action. This measure, however,
was not adopted until the general and admiral, as-
sisted by the principal engineer, had reconnoiter-
ed the town of Quebec, with a view to a general
assault. But after a careful survey, it was unani-
mously agreed that such an attack was imprac-
ticable : for though the men of war might have
silenced the batteries of the lower town, they
could not affect the upper works, from which they
must have sustained considerable damage. The
camp of Montmorenci was therefore broke up,
and the troops encamped at Point Levi. The
squadron under admiral Holmes made movements
up the river for several days successively, in or.
der to amuse the enemy posted on the north
shore.

ON the 5th and 6th of September, the general
emb irked the forces ; but the transports being
extremely crowded, and the weather bad, one
Ivalf of the troops were landed for refreshment on
the south shore. As soon as matters were ripe
for action t he directed admiral Saunders to make
a feint with his squadron, as if he proposed to at-
tack the French in their entrenchments on the
Beauport shore, below the town, and by his mo-
tions to give this feint all the appearance of reali-
ty possible. This disposition being made below
the town, Wolfe embarked his forces about one
in the morning, and admiral Holmes's division
sailed three leagues further up the river than the

VIRGINIA; 257

place where he intended toland* in order to conceal CH AP.
his real design. He then embarked the troops, _
and fell do\vn silently with the tide ; but by the "
rapidity of the current, and the darkness of the
night, the boats were carried a little below the in-
tended place of attack. The ships followed them,
and arriving just at the time that had been concert-
ed, to cover their landing* the troops were disem-
barked without loss, o/indeed the knowledge of
the enemy.

THIS remarkable success was, in some mea-
sure, owing to the following accident : two French
deserters had been carried the evening before on
board the English fleet, and from them the general
learned, that the garrison expected that night to
receive a convoy of provisions in boats, from the
detachment above the town, commanded by Mons.
Bougainville. The knowledge of this circum.
stance was of the utmost consequence, and tend-
ed to deceive the centinels posted along-shore to
challenge boats and vessels, and give an alarm,
if necessary. The first English boat being ques-
tioned accordingly, captain Donald M' Donald,
of Eraser's Highland regiment, who was perfect-
ly acquainted with the French language, answer-
ed without hesitation, to their challenging word,
3>ui ij a la ? (Who is there) La France. When
the centinel asked, Au quel regiment? (To what
regiment do you belong ?) The captain replied,
De la Rime, (To the queen's) which he acciden-
tally knew to be one of those that were under the
command of Bougainville. The soldier took it
for granted that this was the expected convoy,
and allowed the boats to proceed, without further
interruption. The other Gentries were deceived
in the same manner ; though one more wary than
the rest, ran down to the water's edge, and called,
Pour quoincparlez wnsplus haut? (Why don't) ou

HISTORY Of

speak with an audible voice ?) To this question,
which implied doubt, the captain answered with
admirable presence of mind, in a low voice, Tais
tois9 nous scrons entendues, (Hush ! we shall be
overheard, and discovered). Thus cautioned,
the centinel retired without further altercation.

As the troops could not be landed at the place
intended, when they gained the shore; an high
precipice appeared before them, extremely steep,
and almost perpendicular. A little path winded
up this ascent, so narrow that two persons could
not go a-breast; and even this path, by which alone
the forces could possibly reach the summit, was
strongly intrenched, and defended by a captain's
guard. Such great difficulties did not abate the
hopes of the general, or the ardour of the troops.
Colonel Howe's light infantry, laying hold of
stumps and boughs of trees, pulled themselves
up, dislodged the enemy, and cleared the path ;
then gained the top of the hill, without further
interruption, and as fast as they ascended formed
themselves ; so that the whole army was in order
of battle by day- break,

Mo N T c A "L M, when the news was brought him,
could scarcely credit the report ; but still belie v-
ed it to be a feint, to induce him to abandon that
strong post, which had been the object of all the
real attempts that had been made since the begin-
ning of tile siege. But no sooner was he unde-
ceived, and found that the English army had re-
ally gained the Heights of Abraham, which in a
manner commanded the town of Quebec on its
weakest part, *han he determined to risk a battle ;
and according!}' quitted his intrenched camp, and
having collected his whole force from the side of
Beauport, marched towards the English army,
Xvithout delay.

VIRGIN! 2

GENERAL WOLFE, perceiving the enemy CHAP,
crossing the river St. Charles, began to form his „•„,.. ,,^'-,
own line, which consisted of six battalions and
the Louisbonrg grenadiers ; the right command-
ed by brigadier Monckton, and the left by briga-
dier Murray. Colonel Howe, who was just re-
turned with his light infantry from taking a four-
gun battery, was posted in the rear of the lefr.
M. de Montcalm advancing in such a manner as
shewed his intention was to ilank the left of the
English, brigadier Townshend was ordered thi-
ther with Amherst's regiment, which he formed
e.n potency presentinga double front to the enemy :
he was afterwards reinforced with two battalions,
and the reserve, consisting of one regiment, form-
ed in eight sub-divisions, with large intervals, was
posted behind the right. The right wing of the
enemy was composed of half their colony troops,
two battalions of regulars, and a body of Cana-
dians and savages : their center consisted of a
column formed by two other regular battalions;
and their left of one battalion, with the rest of
the colony troops : the bushes and corn-fields in
their front were lined with fifteen hundred of
their best marksmen, who kept up an irregular
galling fire, which proved fatal to many brave of-
ficers, thus singled out for destruction. This fire
was indeed in some measure checked by the ad-
vanced posts of the English line, who picqueer-
ed with the enemy for some hours before the bat-
tle began. Both armies were almost entirely
destitute of artillery ; the French having only two
pieces, and the English two six- pounders, which
the seamen had with great difficulty drawn up
from the landing-place ; but these were extreme-
ly well served, and galled their column severely,
obliging them to alter their disposition.

270 HISTORY OF

CHAP. ABOUT ten in the morning the enemy ad vane-
ed briskly to the charge hi three columns, two of
them inclining towards the left of our army, and
the third to our right, firing obliquely at the two
extremities of our line, from the distance of one
hundred and thirty yards, until they came within
forty yards, which our troops withstood with the
greatest intrepidity and firmness, reserving their
fire. This uncommon steadiness, together with
the havock which the grape-shot from our field-
pieces made amongst them, threw them into
some disorder. The English, who had been or-
dered to load with double ball, now poured in a
terrible .discharge, and continued their fire with
such deliberation and spirit, that the enemy im-
mediately gave way, and fled with precipitation.
General Wolfe himself was stationed on the right,
at the head of Bragg's regiment and the Louis-
bourg grenadiers, where the attack was warm-
est, and standing conspicuous, in the very front
of the line, had been aimed at by the enemy's
marksmen, and at last received a shot in the
wrist, which did not oblige him, however, to
quit the field. Having wrapped an handkerchief
round his arm, he continued giving orders with-
out the least emotion, and advanced at the head
of the grenadiers, with their bayonets fixed, when
another ball unfortunately pierced the breast of
this young hero*, just as the enemy gave way,

* \Vhen the general was carried off wounded to the rear
m the front line, he desired those who were about him to lay
him down ; being asked if he would have a surgeon ? he re-
plied, " It is needless, it is all over with me." An officer
•present cried out, " They run, see how they run." " Who
run ?" demanded our hero, with great earnestness, like a
;>rrson roused from sleep ! The officer answered, " The en-
emy, Uir,egad> they give way every where." Whereupon the

VIRGINIA. 271.

and victory was crowning all his labours with sue- CHAP,
cess. General Monckton, the next in command, In>
fell immediately after, and was conveyed out of
the line. While the right and center of the front
line pressed on with their bayonets, the Highland-
ers with their broad- swords, supported by the
58th regiment, fell on the enemy with irresisti-
ble impetuosity, and drove them with great slaugh-
ter into the town, and the works they had raised
at the bridge, over the river St. Charles. The
action was less violent on the left and rear of the
English. Some of the light-infantry had thrown
themselves into houses, where being attacked,
they defended themselves with great courage and
resolution, being supported by colonel Howe,
who taking post with two companies behind a
small copse, and frequently sallying out on the
flanks of the enemy during their attack, often
drove them into heaps, while brigadier Towns-
bend advanced platoons against their front ; so
that the right wing of the French was totally pre-
vented from executing their first intention. The
brigadier himself remained with Amherst's re-
giment, to support this disposition, and over-
awe a body of Indians posted opposite the light-
infantry, waiting for an opportunity to fall on the
rear of die English army.

GENERAL WOLFE being slain, and general
Monckton dangerously wounded, the command
of course devolved on general Townshend, who,

general rejoined, " What do the cowards run already ? Go-
one of you, my lads, to colonel Burton — tell him to march
Webb's regiment with all speed, down to Charles River, to
cut off the retreat ot the fugitives from the bridge." Then
turning on his side, he added, " Now, God be praised, I will
die in peace ;" and thus expired.

072 HISTORY OF

CHAP, upon this information, hastened to the center, anci
formed the troops again, that were somewhat dis-
" ordered in the pursuit, with all possible expediti-
on. He had scarce performed thisnecessaiy du-
ty, before Mons. Bougainville, with a body of two
thousand fresh men, appeared in the rear of the
English army. He had marched from Cape Rouge
the moment he received advice that the English
troops had gained the Heights of Abraham ; but
did not arrive time enough to have any share in
the action.

GENERAL TOWNSHEND immediately ordered
two battalions, with two pieces of artillery, to ad-
vance against this officer ; but he retired among
the woods and swamps, the general prudently de-
clined pursuing. He had already gained a com-
plete victory, taken a great number of French of-
ficers, and was in possession of a very advantage-
ous situation, which it would have been highly
imprudent to hazard for the sake of defeating
Bougainville's detachment. Mons. de Montcalni
was mortally wounded in the battle, and convey-
ed to a convent of Augustine nuns, about a rniie
from Quebec ; from whence, before he died, he
\vrote a letter to general Townshehd, recommend-
ing the prisoners to that generous humanity which
distinguishes the British nation. Mons. de Sene-
fergue, and Mons. de St. OUTS, the two next in
command, were also slain. About a thousand of
the enemy were made prisoners, including a great
number of officers ; and about eight hundred were
killed in the action. The shattered remains oj"
their army, after having reinforced the garrison of
Quebec, retired to Point an Tremble, from
whence they continued their retrtat to Jacques
Quartier, where they remained intrenched till the
severity of the weal her forced them to make the
_st of their way to Trois Rivieres and Montreal

VIRGINIA, 273

THIS important victory, though gained at the CHAP,
expence of only sixty-one men killed, including
nine officers ; and of five hundred and ninety eight
wounded, was dearly bought. The death of ge-
neral Wolf was a national loss, and universally la-
mented : soldiers may be raised, officers will be
formed by experience, but the loss of a genius in
war is not easily repaired. By nature formed for
military greatness, his memory was retentive, his
judgment deep, and his comprehension surpris-
ingly quick, clear, and extensive ; his constituti-
onal courage not only uniform and daring, perhaps
to an extreme, but he possessed also that higher
species of it, a strength, steadiness and activity of
mind, which no difficulties or dangers could deter.
Generous, gentle, friendly, affable, and humane,
he was the pattern of the officer, and the darling
of the soldier ; his sublime genius soared above
the pitch of ordinary minds ; and had his facul-
ties been exercised to their full extent, by oppor-
tunities and action, and his judgment been fully
ripened by age and experience, he would have
rivalled the most celebrated heroes of antiquity.

IN every other quarter the war wa* equally sue-
cessful. Altho' the great commoner had resign-
ed in disgust, be left behind him his vast pro-
jects for the humiliation of the house of Bourbon.
They were every where in operation, both on the
land and the water, and notwithstanding the great
projector \vas out of the way, they proceeded tor a
time on the momentum which he hael commu-
nicated. Spain had been added to the list of
her enemies, but a series of disasters evinced the
inadequacy of the united Bourbons, to cope with
the genius and fortune of Britain, and preliminaries
were at length signed and interchanged at Fontain-
bleau, in the beginning: of November, 1762, be*
2L

274 HISTORY OF

tween the ministers of Great Britain, France^
Spain, and Portugal.

THUS ended a war, whose successes raised the
British nation to the very pinnacle of human great-
ness. The cession of Canada, with all that part
of Louisiana, which is situated to the east of the
great river Mississippi ; together with Cape Bre-
ton and the other islands in the gulph and river of
St. Laurence ; of Grenada and the Grenadines in
the West Indies, together with the neutral islands,
Dominique, Vincents, and Tobago ; Senegal
guaranteed to Britain in Africa; the renuncia-
tion by France of all her acquisitions on the coast
of Coromandel, and her stipulation, not to erect for-
tifications in any part of the kingdom of Bengal in
Europe ; the restoraion of Minorca by the same
power, and her consent to the demolition of the
harbor and fortifications of Dunkirk ; The cession
bv Spain, and guarantee in full right of East and
West Florida, and all her other possessions to the
East and South east of the Mississippi ; her re-
lirquishment of right to fish on the banks of New
Foundland, and her admission of the English
claim to cut logwood on the coast of Honduras,
present a croud of brilliant and useful trophies,
which have rarely if ever been exceeded. — Justice
alone was wantingto secure those great ad vantages,
Happy for Britain — too happy had it been, if the
fruits of so many victories had been used with a
moderation equal to the valor and wisdom by
which they had been atchieved. Her subsequent
conduct exhibits another melancholy fact in sup-
"f the opinion that states and empires Jike in-
'uals, have their points of elevation and de-
pression, and that having attained their zenith, they

VIRGINIA. 275

are fated to measure back their way to the nadir
of feebleness and decrepitude.*

* The military operations in Canada have been taken ver-
batim from Wynne. The portion of narrative thus borrow*
ed is small ; I have ventured on it, notwithstanding, wiih
uneasiness and reluctance. It is certainly matter not neces*
sarily connected with the History of Vinrinia : but tor good
sense and conciseness it is not easy to dad au authority su-
perior to Wynn*.

CHAPTER IV.

State of America after the peace — opinions enter-*
1 ained of the powers of the British pailiamerti
—external and internal 'axes. Mr. Grenville^
resolutions respecting addition il duties — his fa-
mous declaratory resolution. Its reception in Bri-
ta'm — it excites the utmost alarm hi the colonies
— spirited resolutions of the American provinces
— Mr. Grenville^s celebrated stamp tax—
ar%umenfs of the minority on it — it excites
the highest indignation and most determined
opbos'tion in the colonies — spirited resolution
of Patrick Henry in the Virginia Assem-
bJv — Governor dissolves the Assembly — mem-
#<>r? re-elected almost unanimously — Several
other colonies adobt similar resolutions — Mas-
sachusetts assembly recommend a general con-
gress — $f)i*it and ability of neivs -paper dis-
cussions— stamp officers compelled to resign — col.
Mercer, his disinterested behaviour — congress at
N. Tork — their declaration of rights and grie-
vances— their petition to the king and memorials
to the two houses of parliament — congress recom-
mend the appointment of special agents — Riots in
the towns — Administration changed — New mi-
nistry favorable to the American claims — Circu-
lar letter of General Conway to the American
Governors — Proceedings in the British Parlia-
ment— Stamp act repealed- — Joy in America,
produced by this event — Chas. Toivnsend's boast
vf raising an American revenue — This revenue

to be appropriated to the payment of the CHAP.

of government — This act is opposed in America
— Several able political tracts, discuss its consti-
tutionality— Proceedings of the Massachusetts
Assembly — Their circular letter to the other co-
lonies— Virginia proceedings— Assembly^ letter
to Massachusetts — Lctttcr of Hillsborough-*
Answer of the Massachusetts Legislature to the
Larl of Hdlsborough — Assembly dissolved —
Seizure of the doop Libtrty — Riot in Boston —
l\c'venue officers take refuge, on board the Rom-
ney — Town meeting— Death of governor Fau-
quier — His character — John Blair, President
of council — He unites with the council and House
of ttitrgess — In their petition to the King — In
their memorial to the house of Lords and their
remonstrance to the house oj Commons — Lord
Botetourt Governor — His patriotic conduct —
His assurances to Virginia — Finds himself de-
ceived by the court — L. Ins recall — His
deatk and character — High testimony of the
regrets of the Colony at this event , and their
sense of his faithful administration — Wm. Nel-
son, i' resident — IVarm supporter of American
liberty — Lord Dunmore arrives— Assembly — -
Their remonstrance against fees — His Lord-
ship's mild and conciliatory answer — Inroads
oj the Indians — Their confederacy and defeat at
faint Pleasant.

278

CHAPTER IV.

CHAP.
IV.

••••••••MaMBIH

State of
America
after the
peace.

THE last asra exhibited the dawn of genius,
We are now approaching its meridian. That
sera was the cradle of the American rfercules :
this exhibits him in his might and his beauty, rend-
ing the chains of the oppressed and crushing the
sceptre of the oppressor. Henceforth every
thing that is glorious in action ; that is sublime in
morals, will be familiar. Justness of design, cor-
rect conception, elevation of sentiment, honor,
virtue, courage, genius, and ofcen the concurrence
of them all : Such are the properties of this splen-
did cera. What can be more august, more an
object of admiration, than the spectacle of virtu-
ous exiles driven from the haunts of civilized
life into the howling wilderness, by the hand of
oppression ; starting all at once into manhood by
a sort of preternatural agency : although divided
by a thous andlocalinterests and prejudices, uniting
like chemical affinities for their mutual defence.
What can be more extraordinary than to see those
children of yesterday reading lessons of wisdom
to the wisdom of the earth ; unfolding the repre-
sentative system in the midst of the waste ; con-
founding the malice and the power of their enemy
by their wisdom and courage, and raising up alii-
ances amongst the kings and nations of the earth ;
producing orators, poets, heroes, statesmen, phi-
losophers, and realizing by their manners and ac-
tions the history of antient sages.

HISTORY OF 279

IN the preceding zeras we saw the colonies fight- CHAP.
ing without a concert, and struggling separately
against their savage neighbours, assisted by the
power of France. We saw them driven into an
union by a sense of common danger and interest,
and contending bravely and successfully in con-
junction with the fleets and armies of the mother
country. But still the union was incomplete,
and after the subjugation of their rival they would
in a short time relapse into their former jealousy
and separation ; and the policy of the mother coun-
try would encourage their repugnance to union,
as the means of concealing from them the alarm-
ing secret of their strength.

IN fact so early as 1753, as has been already
shewn, a plan of union was drafted with the view
to an effectual co-operation of the colonies in mat-
ters of mutual defence, and that, notwithstanding
the alarming power with which the executive ma-
gistrate of this general government was clothed,
it was rejected by Great- Britain. It was rejected
by the colonies at the same time, for the better rea-
son, that it had a tendency by its concentration of
authority in the president general to diminish the
power of the legislatures. But notwithstanding
these jealousies, the attachment of the colonies to
the mother country was universal.

IN place of this instrument of government, it
was proposed by the minister that the colonial
governors with one or two members of the coun-
cils of the respective provinces, should assemble
to consult and resolve on measures necessary for the
common defence, and should draw on the British
treasury for the sums to be expended, which sums
were to be afterwards raised by a general tax, to
be imposed by parliament on the colonies. But
this would have been an union of the creatures of
government ; and the project of taxation by a par-

280 VIRGIN!

CHAP, liament, where the colonies were not represented,
*v- was in direct opposition to ail the long established
habits and ieelings of the colonists.

IN this state the question slept, it having been
deemed impolitic to shock the prejudices of the
colonies by any discussions supposed to affect
their rights in the midst of a war, which shook
to its center the British power in N. America. —
The colonies were left to their own judgment and
liberality in adjusting the quantum of their sup-
plies; and their conduct on this occasion afforded
complete evidence that they might have been safe-
ly trusted with the power. Even the mother coun-
try bore testimony to the r>oble ardor and generous
profusion of her children, and refunded to them
from the royal treasury large sums admitted to
have been advanced by their legislatures at vari-
ous times, exceeding their means and beyond
their proportion.*

IT vvas owing to this generous zeal on one side,
and this apparent regard to justice and equity on

* In the month of February 1756, the Film of 115,000&
was voted by parliament as a free gift and reward to thr co-
lonies of New-England, New- York, and Nevv-Jt r?ey,for their
past services, and as an encouragement to continue to exert
themselves wuh vigor. Muy 1757, 50,0007. was in like man-
ner to the Carolinians, and in !753, 41.000/. to Masb«,rlui-
setts and Connecticut, April 1759, 200,000/. WHS vot« . d 'o
the respective colonies in N. America; Mwich 17CO, 200,(. (;()/.
1761, 200.000/. 1762, 133.000/. 1763, 133000/. in ;-ii one
million seventy two thousand pounds; exclusive 'oucver of
these indemnifications, and of the extraordinary FV,
granted in the- different colon';.:! assemblies, a debt oi' ab ve
two millions and a half had been incurred by America dur-
ing the war, and this debt was far from bvin^ a* yet liqni-
dated, but it might be inferred from the conduct ••! :hep ient
ministry, that the must ttivial revenue extorKd from Ame*
rica was deemed preferable to llrj largest sums fretjy un4
voluntarily i^runted.

VIRGINIA,

the other, that the ties of affection were drawn
closer between the parent state and her colonies ;
and that they were enabled at the close of the
<era, which had gone by, to exterminate the for-
midable power of France in America.

THE recollection of the sufferings they bore to-
gether,and the glories they mutually sharedin these
encounters, still farther cemented the bonds of
nativity and affection.

BUT more especially in the minds of the colo-
nists, this sentiment was without alloy or adul-
teration. They looked back with a mingled pride
and admiration on the land of their ancestors, the
seat of the arts, the sanctuary of liberty, ter-
ror of tyrants, like the Roman senate, the hope,
the refuge, the consolation of the distressed,
—They had seen her on the land and on the
waters,' in both hemispheres contending for
liberty and empire with the combined powers
of the house of Bourbon, and smite them in
the midst of their power — directed by the coun-
sels of that great man, the suggestions of whose
mind looked like the work ing of prophecies, whose
decision seemed like the fiat of a divinity, they
had seen the reputation of British justice and va-
lour and eloquence, spread to the remotest nati-
ons, and the whole world filled with admiration
by the adventurous deeds of a people, whose aim
was liberty, whose scope was justice, and who,
whilst they defended their own rights, were fight-
ing the battles of the world.

IN contemplating more nearly their own situa-
tion, as it stood relatively to the government of
the parent state — they found little to abate the ar-
dour of their attachment. Since the dethrone-
ment of the Stuarts, the administration of govern-
ment had been mild in the provinces ; and the
2M

282 HISTORY OF

CHAP. laws?nd constitution regulated by arule of certain-
ty, left the people no apprehensions for their pro-
perty and liberty. The restraints laid on com*
merce by the British parliament, although the
object of complaint aiid remonstrance, more es-
pecially in Virginia, were at length silently acqui-
esced in ; and intelligent men every where began
to regard them as necessary evils incident to our
condition as men, but not in themselves of suffi-
cient magnitude to lessen the gratitude of the
people for the great and positive blessings they en-
jrycd under their free forms of government. —
The navigation act, although it partially affected
the trade of the colonists ; although it formerly
had disappointed tneir hopes and excited their
disgust, began to be universally regarded as the
foundation of the great naval and commercial su-
periority ofBiitdin, and a full share of this prospe-
rity, it was btlieved, would be reflected on her
offspring.

BUT the people in the midst of this zeal and
attachment, had invariably denied the right of
pailia men t by any laws of that body, to raise any
revenue within the colonies, and insisted that the
design and aim of the commercial provisions of
the navigation act, were solely for the regulation
of trade ; so that the productions of those colo-
nies should center in the mother country, and
foreigners be excluded from all benefits of trade
or iijterc.oxnse with them : And even this prefer-
ence was supposed to be founded on the great
labour and expence incurred b) the mother coun-
try, in found ing and establishing the colonies. — *
We find that tt e legislature of Virginia, so early
as the year 1624, asserted it was their undoubted
right alqne, " to lay taxes and impositions, and
none other." We *.ee them again refusing to admit
an) members of council to assist them indetermin-

VIRGINIA. 2£

ing the sum of the public levy, notwithstanding CHAP.
the solicitation of their great idol sirW. Berkeley.

THE matter is put beyond all doubt, by tiie
arguments of the colony's agents and those of the
ero\vn in 1676, when they solicited a charter.
They there positively assert their sole depend-
ance on the king and the crown of England, that
thty are not to be charged or taxed but by their own
consent. " T/iey state that neither ms majesty
nor any of his ancestors or predecessors, have ever
offered to impose any tax upon this plan .-at ion,
•without the consent of his subjects there, nor" they
add 4i upon any other plantation, however, so
much less deserving or considerable to his crown.
New England, Maryland, Barbudoes, &c. are not
taxed, but by their own consent." When the
agents of the crown object that this form of go-
vernment ivi/l look like a parliament, they reply
that it had been the course tor fifty years, and tuil
been productive of great prosperity and happiness ;
that they had been established and incorporated
by royal charter, without any agency of parlia-
ment ; that for a long time they had been govern-
ed by the king's instructions alone, and had al-
ways considered themselves as dependent on the
crown of England ; that the king's power of nega-
tiving their laws was an evidence of the absolute
independence of the colonial legislatures on the
British parliament, and of their consequent de-
pendence on the crown.

THIS correspondence abounds with assertions
of right equally strong and explicit. It contains
one declaration, however, which so far as it res-
pects this opinion will decide the question for ever.
They demand that no manner 01 impositions or
taxes shall be laid or imposed on the inhabitants
or proprietors there, but b} the .' o union consent
of the governor, council and burg-bses, as haih

HISTORY O?

heretofore been used; " provided that this conces-
sion be no bar to any imposition that may be laid
by act of parliament, on the commodhics which
may come from that country." Here at one single
point is a view of the whole ground, and volumes
could not make it clearer. Here is the plain dis-
tinction between internal and external taxation «,
about which so much has been said, and 1 will
venture to affirm that it is the earliest, strongest,
and most explicit assertion and explanation of this
right, to be found in the records of the colonies.*
What is the more extraordinary, the king approv-
ed the report of the ? gents, and directed the at-
torney general " to prepare a bill for his majesty's
signature, in order to the passing of letters patent
for the grand settlement and confirmation of all
things according to the direction of said report,"
&c.

IT is manifest from the language of this report,
that the co.ony had in view the navigation act,
which had been in operation several years, and that
by admitting the right of the British parliament
to tax the commodities of the colonies in England,
they excluded them from all other right or autho-
rity whatsoever, and this not by inference) but by
the plainest and most absolute denial.

TH ERE are certainly some facts that would seem
to defeat this opinion. The judges of Massachu-
setts had determined that the colonies were bound
by acts of parliament, which concerned them, and
the general court in a short time after gave an

* Mr. Marshall mentions a declaration of the assembly
of Massachusetts, and one of the New-York assembly in the
year 1692, as uncommon proofs of the firmness and intelli-
gence of those states. He little dreamed that his native state
had near twenty years before, advanced the same doctrine
in language more strong and impressive.

VIRGINIA. 23;

ress sanction to this doctrine. The British c^p-
parliament too in the assertion of its authority
against the pretensions of the Massachusetts and
IM. York legislatures, declared " that all laws, bye
laws, usages and customs, which shall be in prac-
tice in any of the plantations repugnant to any law
made or to be made in this kingdom relative to
the said plantations, shall be void and of none ef-
fect." Three years afterwards, they passed an act
still stronger, and more absurd for the trial of pi-
rates in America. In this a forfeiture of the char-
ters is denounced/ as the penalty of the governor
or other officers refusing obedience to its provisi-
ons. But an acquiescence under the claims of
the British parliament to general legislation, was
thought oflittle consequence, after having effectu-
ally secured the great principle of taxation against
all external interference. Their charters had ex-
pressly declared that the colonial laws " must not
be repugnant to the hws of England ;" the par-
liament were the organs of English laws ; it seem-
ed to follow therefore with the absolute truth of a
regui ';ysni, that all the laws enacted by this

must be binding on them, save such as went
to the assessment and levying of taxes, and these
were excepted only by special provision.

IT was thought no exception to this rule, that
a general post-office was established in 1710 ; it
was looked on as au useful establishment, which
by facilitating the intercourse between the colo-
nies and the mother country, would conduce
to a greater dispatch and order in commercial
proceeding:;. The monies paid were regarded
as a compensation for services rendered, and
its use was entirely voluntary. Even the act
of the 6th George the 2d, imnosine duties oa fo-

O ' j. O

reign rum, molasses, &c. had given no uneasi-
ness, because there was no apparent design of rais-

235 HISTORY OF

CHAP, ing a revenue, and no mention of any appropr!^
IV- ,. tion of its produce.

THE project of Keith in conjunction with some
merchants of Philadelphia, for raising a revenue
within the colonies, has already been spoken of:
but that measure which was considered too ha-
zardous to be touched and too profligate to be at-
tempted even by the corrupt Walpole, the most
distant idea of which had never suggested itself
during a regular succession of tyrants, and a com-
plication of national burdens and distress, was em-
braced, at the close of a war, which, guided by
the genius of Chatham, had on every ocean and
on every climate, raised imperishable trophies to
British valor.

BUT tint excentric orb. xvhose ray shed happi-
ness and glory on England, and disgrace and dis-
asters on her enemies, had suffered a partial eclipse.
The false glitter of royal honours, had been artful-
ly thrown over it for the purpose of shrouding its
glories, and obscuring its brightness ; whilst the
foul birds of corruption Bitted in its twilight, and
their funeral screams boded disasters and death.*

THE situation of England at this time would
seem to justify the melancholy observation, that
nations like individuals have their periods of sani-
ty and vigor ; of decay and dissolution. She had
reached her acme. She had shone out among na-
tions like a sun amidst the lesser stars : But now by
an overruling and inevitable destiny, she appeared
to be ready to tumble from the dazzling height to
which she had been elevated by the combinations
of genius ; a full not slow and gradual like her as-
cent, but with the portentous rapidity of a falling

*He had been artfully pensioned by Lord Bute, and the ho-
nors of nobility were entailed on his descendants.

VIRGINIA, 43

sphere forcibly propelled and dragged to its cen- CHAP,
tre of gravity.

the conclusion of every war, in which for "
die last century, Britain had been engaged, are-
c' action of the revenue particularly, the land tax,
had been always regarded as a politic and neces-
sary sacrifice to the avarice of the landed interest.
It mattered not through how many regions ra-
pacity had extended its vulture eye and iron beak,
provided these children of the earth were secured
in their feudal immunities. It might traffic in the
blood of the sun burnt children of Africa ; it might
scatter plague, war, pestilence, and famine on the
banks of the Ganges, and drench its verdant fields
with the innocent blood of Rajahs and Bramins ;
groans might issue from the forge and the loom,
from the workshop and the counting room, from the
hospital and the highway, where naked and shiver-
ing famine arraigns providence for the misfortunes
arising from the ambition of ministers and kings.
The short and simple annals of the poor exhibit
nothing worthy the sympathy of courtiers.

IN that stupendous fabric of human invention,
the management of parliament is the primary ob-
ject of ministerial attention. The members of
boroughs are with few exceptions returned by the
lords, and form a close and mercenary phaia-ix,
ready armed at all points, save the head, to fight the
battles of the minister. The representatives of
towns are vaiiously disposed according to the ig-
norance or sagacity or interests o! comme.'ce. The
country gentlemen form theon-y natural rampart
against the encroachments of power ; but this
b';dy had rarely tvirtiny fixed principles of action
or opinion ; alternately, whigs and tories, always
high churchmen ; advocates of high handed
measures in church and state, entertaining a lofty
opinion of themselves, and a silly contempt for

288 HIRTORY OF

CHAP, the rest of the world ; agreeing in no point of the
IV- compass, with the nation, but a willingness to
" grant the money of all other classes of society and
a repugnance to contribute a shilling of their own :
They exhibit a motley group of inconsisten-
cies, not enlivened or relieved by a single good
quality, save their blunt unceremonious sincerity,
and their generous and profuse hospitality.

THE reductions which had already taken place
in the national imposts were fur below the stand-
ard of the peace establishment at the treaty of Aix-
la-Chapelle : and the immense interest of an in-
creased national debt, demanded larger supplies
to meet the ordinary expenditure. Every source of
revenue had already been exhausted, and neither
tv.e ingenuity of government, nor the patience of
the people, could admit any new additions to the
accumulated n ass of national burdens.

IN this exigence the minister threw his eye
over the map of British empire, and North- A me
rica presented her rich plains and her success-
ful industry, as }et unexhausted by the ve-
nality of courtiers, copious sources for future
corruption.

THE obscurity in which the rights of the Bri*
tish colomes and authority of the parent state, had
been hitherto involved, was favorable to the ad-
vancement of the present pretensions. Their ex-
act limits had never been ascertained, and no cri.
sis had ever occurred in the anals of the empire
where the publieexigency more urgently demand-
ed the aid and contributions of all classes of sub-
jects.

THE In riaken the world to its cen-

tre, and victorious Britain in the midst of her
successes, found herself, by her enormous expen-
ditures and the lr ; embarrassments inci-
dent to war, ontht brink of bankruptcy. T

VIRGINIA; 28

vrar, too, originated in a paternal regard for the CHAP.
colonies, whose territories had been invaded, and
their very existence menaced by a powerful and
ambitious nation. To enforce the just rights of
her children, the fleets and armies of Britain,
animated and confirmed by her magnanimous mi-
nister, carried the British thunder across the At-
lantic, and into the heart of the wilderness, and
in conjunction with provincial troops, had pros-
trated the colossal power and ambition of France
in that vast country. America was not insensi-
ble to these glorious services : She had often
acknowledged them with grateful affection, and
she could not and would not object to contri-
bute to the relief of the venerable parent who
had watched over her infancy, and who had
shielded her adolescence with the aegis of valour
and wisdom.

SUCH were the arguments by which plans of
pillage and schemes of confiscation were sancti-
fied, and whilst the imaginations of the mad pro-
jectors brooded over the hoards of gold to be col-
lected by collectors and tax gatherers from the
plunder of cities and provinces, constitutional
law, as well as natural right, were forgotten.

IT should be recollected that the boasted
defence of North- America by Britain, was the
defence of her own trade, wealth, revenues,
and sovereignty, and it seemed no extraordi-
nary effort of generosity, to fight for objects
so essential to h,r: own interest. Beside ; the
colonists had gallantly seconded her efforts, and
their treasures and their best blood had been
prodigally wasted in the common cause. The
immense profits of their adventurous commerce
were divided amongst court favourites and mi-
aions, who " toil not, neither do they spin,
2N

HISTORY OF

CHAP.
IV.

yet are greater than Solomon in all his glory. >»
They had often, too, by their valour saved the
regular troops from extermination, and averted
those fatal consequences, which were to be ap-
prehended from the incapacity of the cabinet and
the blind presumption of the officers they had ap-
pointed to execute their rash and ill-advised pro-
jects.

BUT these considerations, however solid, had
no \\ tight. Resolute in their plans, they looked
only to one side of the subject, and regarded as a
pernicious and v icked heresy any attempt to de-
ny their right, or even to doubt their authority.

PURSUANT to this opinion, several resolutions
passed in the commons at the instance of the mi-
nister, imposing new duties on foreign goods im-
poited into the British colonies in America.
These acts, although of a tendency to wound
the interest of the colonies, being regarded as
matters of mere regulation, attracted no particu-
lar attention in parliament. But it soon appeared
that these acts were intended to cover designs of a
more fatal and formidable import. In introducing
this project, even the minister paused, as if ap-
palled b) a presentiment of the calamities with
which it was fraught. His resolution was merely
declaratory, " that it would be proper to impose
certain stamp duties in the said colonies and plan,
tations, for the purpose of raising an American
revenue, payable into the British exchequer."

THE execution of this project, by reason of
its declared importance, was adjourned until the
ensuing year; and time was thus afforded to the
good genius of the- country to step in and arrest
its fatal and destructive progress.

FAR different was its reception in that country
which was the immediate object of this operation.
The declaratory resolution was a phenomenon

VIRGINIA. 291

that immediately attracted every eye and filled
ever}7 bosom \vith apprehension ; animated by
the collision of opinion, discussion walked ceemtis n
abroad with the port and stature of eloquence, America,
and the feature and countenance of conviction.
Nor was the public attention exclusively confined
to the declaratory resolution : It passed by a na-
tural transition to the additional duties, which
from the matter of the regulations, as well as the
obnoxious mode adopted for their enforcement
and execution, was regarded as a severe and in-
tolerable hardship.

A LUCRATIVE traffic had been carried on,
particularly by the northern colonies, with the
French and Spanish colonies, the duties on which
having been justly regarded as inimical to the
true interests of commerce, had been winked at
by the government. It was known that a consi-
derable portion of the current specie of the co-
lonies was procured from these sources, and th-.it
the greatest part of it would ultimately find its
way into Britain in discharge of their mercan-
tile engagements. Of this trade, so necessary
to the credit of the colonies, so profitable to the
mother country, the additional duties would
amount to an absolute prohibition ; and if as here-
tofore> they attempted to evade the payment of
duties so justly obnoxious, it was necessary to
encounter rthe rigorous scrutiny of a swarm of
revenue officers, whose interest was intimately
connected with their vigilance and severity, and
to pass through a variety of forms so complex
and distressing as to render this trade, formerly
so lucrative, an object of indifference.

BUT the declaratory resolution was justly con-
sidered as the main object of public attention.
In it, was involved the constitutional question,
and as the decision would equally affect tiie royal

92 HISTORY OF

CHAP, and proprietary governments, the barriers whicl
local prejudices and commercial competition had
erected, instantly tumbled down, and the American
people entered at once into one vast arena for the
purpose of mutual defence arid national concert

FROM this moment the history of one province
is the history of all, unless the historian chooses
to become the frigid annalist of partial events,
when he is surrounded by the most brilliant phe-
nomena, and walks in the midst of actions which
shake the world to its centre.

SEVERAL of the provincial legislatures trans-
mitted petitions to the king, and memorials to
both houses of parliament, couched in respectful
but animated terms, against the projected sta-
tute. The assembly of Massachusetts instructed
their agent in London not only to protest against
the passage of the stamp act, or any other act of
a similar nature, but to solicit the repeal of the
obnoxious duties, on the ground of their being
eminently prejudicial to the true interests of the
colonies and the mother country. Private asso-
ciations were formed at the same time in various
places, with the view of diminishing the use of
British and encouraging that of American manu-
factures.

THE administration having unexpectedly en-
countered this alarming opposition, attempted
to gain the object by means less calculated to ex-
cite offence and alarm, but which should be
equally decisive of the principle contended for,
and which might afterwards be brought into a
precedent. With this view the agents of the co-
lonies in London were informed that they were at
liberty of adopting any other mode more agreeable
for raising the sum demanded.* It was also pro-

* ioo,ooo/.

VIRGINIA. 203

posed that they would be permitted to plead nt CHAP,
the bar of the house by counsel, contrary to the r^~Si-
usual parliamentary practice, against the tax in Cond;-
behalf of their respective colonies ; but these the n
pretended concessions \vere spurned at by the strjr*
agents as derogatory to the rights and honour of
the colonies, who would not on this occasion
petition but protest. It was urged by them that
the claim of England was not only lt absolutely
novel, but diametrically opposite to the spirit and
letter of the English constitution, which has
estabii- a fundamental axiom, that taxa-

tion is inseparably attached to representation ;
that as the colonies were not, and from local and
political obstacles could not, be represented in
the British parliament, it would be of the very
essence of tyranny to attempt to exercise an an-
thority over them, which from its very nature
must lead to gross and inevitable abuse. For
when Great Britain was in full possession of t
power now contended for. could it possibly be
imagined, when a sum of money for the supply
of the exigencies of government was wanting,
that the British parliament would not rather
choose to vote that it should be paid by the colo-
nists thin 1 ives and their constituents ?
" IN reply to the argument which stated as
highly reasonable, that America shov. ^ri-
bute her proportion to the general expense of the
empire, it was said, " that America had never
been deficient in contributing, at the constituti-
onal requisition of the crown, in her r TTI-
blies, to the utmost of her ability, towards the
expenses of the wars in which conjointly with
England she had been involved ; that, in the
course of the last memorable contest, large sums
had been repeatedly voted by parliament, as an
indemnification to the colonies

HISTORY OF

which were allowed to be disproportionate to
their means and resources ; that the proper com-
pensation to Britain for the expense of rearing
and protecting her colonies was the monopoly
of this trade, the absolute direction and regu-
lation of which was universally acknowledged
to be inherent in the British legislature." It
was, however, clearly intimated that a specific
sum, in lieu of all other claims, nrght be ob-
tained from the colonies, if accepted as a vo-
luntary offering, not as a revenue extorted by ty-
rannical and lawless force, which left them no
merit in giving, and which might ultimately
leave them nothing to give.

THE argument or pretext which appeared to
excite most indignation in the breast of the
Americans and of their advocates, was that which
affected to deem them already represented ; and
as being, if not actually, yet virtually included
in the general system of representation, in the
same manner as that very large proportion of the
inhabitants of the British island who have no
votes in the election of members or repre-
sentatives in the British parliament. " The ve-
ry essence of representation,* said America,
:t consists in this, that the representative is him-
self placed in a situation annlagous to those
whom he represents, so that he shall be himself
bound by the laws which he is entrusted to enact,
and liable to the taxes which he is authorised to
"impose. This is precisely the case with regard
to the national representation of Britain. Those
who do, and those who do not elect, together
with the elected body themselves, arc, m re-
spect to this grand and indispensable requisite,

f> either m.

VIRGINIA. 295

upon a perfect equality ; that the laws made and CHAP.

the taxes imposed extend alike to all. Whtre ^

then in this case is the danger of oppression, or "
where the inducement to oppress? But in the
case of American taxation,, these mock represent-
atives actually relieve themselves in the very
same proportion that they burden those whom
they ialsely and ridiculously pretend to repre-
sent. Where then in this case is the security
against oppression ? or where is the man so weak
and prejudiced as not to sec the irresistible ten- Arguments
dency of this system to oppression, however ho- of colonists
nest and upright candour would represent the in- ^?tainst lh
tentions of those by whom it should be origi-
nally established ?"

BUT these arguments, clear and convincing as
they must appear at this day, produced not the
slightest change in the determination of minis-
ters ; and the parliament, which had been con-
vened at the usual period of the ensuing winter,
having first unanimously concurred in refusing
to hear any memorials from the colonies that
questioned their jurisdiction, passed into a law
the famous stamp act by large majorities, and it
immediately after received the royal assent.

THIS act, although carried by triumphant ma-
jorities, was assailed by an ardour and eloquence
uncommonly resplendent and animated. The
right indeed was questioned but in a single in-
stance ; the virtuous name of Con way, however,
rendered this simple protest respectable. Its in-
justice and inexpedience became the themes of
more elevated and copious declamation.

COLONEL BARRE, a speaker of distinguished
eminence, in reply to the observation of Char:
Tovvnshendon the ingratitude of the Americans,
where he calls them children planted by our care
and nourished by our indulgence, broke out into

296 HISTORY OF

the following lofty strain of indignant eloquence ;
li Children planted by your care! No! your op-
pression planted them in America. They fled
from your tyranny into a then uncultivated land,
where they were exposed to all the hardships
to which human nature is liable, and among
others, to the savage cruelty of the enemy of
the country, a people the most subtle, and, I
will take upon me to say, the most terrible that
ever inhabited any part of God's earth. And yet,
actuated by principles of true English liberty,
they met all these hardships with pleasure, com-
pared with those they suffered in their own coun-
iry from those who should have been their friends.
" They nourished by your indulgence!" * No!
they grew by your neglect. When you began to
care about them, that care was exercised in send-
ing persons to rule over them, who were the de-
puties of some deputy sent to spy out their li-
berty, to misrepresent their actions, and to prey
upon them : Men, whose behaviour on many oc-
casions has caused the blood of those sons of li-
berty to recoil within them : Men promoted to
the highest seats of justice, some of whom were
glad, by going to a foreign country, to escape
being brought to the bar of justice in their own.
' ^1 hey protected by your attns !" " They have
nobly taken up arms in your defence ; have ex-
erted their valour, amidst their constant and la-
borious industry, for the defence of a country,
the interiour of \\hich, while its frontiers were
drenched in blood, hr.s yielded all its little sav-
:o 3*011 r enlargement. Hellene me — remember ;
I t/iis doy told you so ; tJic same spirit which ac-
tuated that people at first , still continues with
t/t c n : l;ut prudence foi bids me to explain myself
further. God knows, I do not at this time speak
frcni party heat. However superior to me in ge^

VIRGINIA, 297

nerai knowledge and experience any one here may CHAP.
be, I claim to know more of America, having
seen and been conversant in that country. The
people there are as truly loyal, I believe, as any
subjects the king has ; but a people jealous of
their liberties, and who will vindicate them if
they should be violated : But the subject is de-
licate— 1 will say no more."

IN America this opposition to the statute was
of a more perilous and awful nature. Roused
by the declared intention of parliament to tax the
colonies, the people passed rapidly from appre-
hension to resentment ; from resentment to rage
and indignation. A hope, however, generally
prevailed that the obnoxious declaration would
not be able to stand its ground against the unani-
mous protest of the American people. In this
state of gloomy suspense, public sentiment rest-
ed like a cloud highly charged with electric mat-
ter, and from whose sides the slightest agitation
would elicit the thunder and forked lightening.

THE passage of this hateful statute burst at
once the dark and portentous cloud which for
some time had been collecting there, into the
most violent expressions of rage and indignation.
The vessels in the harbour of Boston hung out
their colours half mast high as an emblem of the
public distress, and the most gloomy determina-
tion. It was the emblem of death and spoke
more forcibly than words, the most fearful despe-
ration. , Muffled bells, by their hollow sounds
and tedious pauses, tended still farther to keep
alive these funereal associations. Sensations like
these rendered the soul familiar with images of
death, and insensibly raised it into the region of
terror and sublimity. Every object that met the
senses nourished those impressions. Their wives
2O

298 HISTORY OF

CHAP, and children and parents were threatened with
unmerited injuries ; with slavery, ten thousand
times worse than death.

THE act itself, the hated instrument of so many
calamities, was seized on the first moment of its
appearance, and burnt by the populace with the
effigies of its most active supporters. 4 ' The mas-
ters of those vessels which had conveyed the
stamps to America were compelled to deliver up
their execrated cargoes to an enraged multitude,
\vho treated them with the same ignominy which
the act itself had experienced. Those who had
accepted commissions to act as distributors of
stamps, were forced by public oath to renounce
all concern in them at this or any future juncture ;
and in some instances the houses of those who
were most obnoxious were demolished, and their
effects plundered or destroyed. The justices of
the peace in many parts gave public notice, that
they would never by acting in that Capacity, be
instrumental to the subversion of their country's
liberties ; the gentlemen also of the law, fired by
the same patriotic enthusiasm, universally re-
nounced, in the exeicise of their profession, the
use of the British stamps. But the most alarm-
ing opposition was made by the merchants, who
entered into solemn engagements not to import
any more goods from Great Britain till the stamp
act was repealed. By the first of November,
(1765), the day on which the act was to take
place, not a sheet of stamped paper was to be
found throughout the colonies ; so that all busi-
ness which could not be legally carried on with-
out stamps was entirely at a stand. Every where
the courts of justice were shut, and the porU
closed."*

* Eckham.

VIRGINIA. 299

DURING these tumults not the slightest exer- CHAP,
tion was made by the colonial governments to re- _ ___
press or allay the public ferment ; nor did the
least apprehension of any such interference exist
among the people. They were in their estima-
tion sanctioned by God and the constitution of
their country ; the bands that had heretofore up-
held the edifice of government, were all at once
snapt by the brutal violence of their oppressors,
and it would have been equally stupid and wicked
in them to have waited until the yoke had been
fastened on their necks : They had the approba-
tion of their own consciences, and of every thing
that was dear and venerable in their country.

THE assembly of Virginia was in session when
the passage of the stamp act was announced, and
their proceedings exhibited a noble proof of their
steady adherence to the maxims of their ances-
tors, and their ardour in the cause of American
liberty.

IT appears that notwithstanding the prevalence
of correct opinions on politics in Virginia, a
strong minority, styling themselves the friends of
government, continued to keep their ground in
the legislature. This party, composed in gene-
ral of the great landed proprietors, by acting in
concert were always able to embarrass and some-
times to defeat the measures oi the patriots.
Disgusted by the studied delays and insidious so-
phistry of this class during the preceding session,
Johnson declared his intention of bringing into the
assembly Patrick Henry, a young lawyer distin-
guished alike for an eloquence copious and over-
bearing, and an opposition to the claims of the
British parliament bordering on sedition. Con-
formably with this declaration, the seat of Mr.
Johnson was purposely vacated, and young Hen-
ry, by the influence of his friend, became a

300

HISTORY OF

CHAP.
IV.

Patrick
Henry.

member for the county of Louisa in the assem-
bly of 1765,

So many of the succeeding events are con-
nected with the life of this extraordinary man,
th\t it will not be thought unseasonable to notice
some of the steps by which he rose from obscu-
rity to public estimation and consequence. They
will throw light on some events, which have been
but slightly touched, or wholly omitted ; and will
perhaps illustrate a series of political transactions,
which would otherwise be with difficulty under-
stood.

PATRICK HE NRT, the son of a Scotch gentle*
man of the same name, was born in the county
of Hanover. His mother was a Virginian of the
respectable family of the Winstones, whose
standing in society, added to the learning of his
father, had the effect of securing our patriot from
those vulgar propensities which, owing to the
vice of aristocratic institutions, are but too often
entailed on the offspring of poverty.

HE soon became a tolerable proficient in the
Latin language, and in the elements of geogra-
phy : But his favourite studies were the history
and antiquities of his native state ; and so strong
was the determination of his mind to objects at
this time little known or attended to, that at an
early age he was minutely acquainted with the va-
rious grants and charters, which compose the
foundation and edifice of the rights and preten-
sions of Virginia.

O wi N c to the security arising from long and
uninterrupted possession, and the apprehensions
excited by foreign hostility, these rights were
but imperfectly understood, and to his superiour
knowledge in topics gradually becoming more in-
teresting, should be ascribed in a great measure
the high and deserved reputation he afterward*

VIRGINIA. 301

acquired. In the prosecution of these studies he
had, however, co encounter long and habitual
fits of indolence. Whilst these lasted he was wont
to solace himself with the charms of music, to
which he w,.s passionately devoted, and in which
he was no mean proficient. But the dread of
dependence and the ^pur of ambition, at length
recalled him from this lethargy, and he was esta-
blished by the advice and aid of his family in a
small store* in his native county.

IT will be readily imagined that propensities
and attainments such as have been described, were
not well calculated to secure commercial emi-
nence to their possessor. Young Henry was un-
fortunate, and acting now on his own lessons of
a short but useful experience, and set on by the
workings of an active and ardent ambition, he
turned hi* eye towards the profession of the law,
as presenting the shortest and safest road to ho-
aolument. He found the less difficul-
ty in gaining the approbation of his friends to
this project, who had marked for some in com-
mon with his acquaintance, the extraordinary
prematurity of his genius ; and after a single
month's study, during which time he read with
attention Coke upon Littleton and an abridgement
of the law of Virginia, heobtainedalicer.se.

His first essay realized the partial expectation
of his friend j. On every occasion where acute-
ness of thought, a grasp and originality of judg-
ment and fancy were called for, he displayed
powers before unknown in Virginia, and esta-
blished beyond dispute his great superiority over
all his competitors. In close and compact rea-
soning; in laborious research; in scientific at-

* Shap, officina.

302 HISTORY OF

CHAP, tainmcnts, he had many equals, and some supe-
1V> riors ; but in the forms and manner of eloquence
he was superior to them all.

HITHERTO his talents had been exerted only
in cases originating in private litigation. He had
never measured his strength with any great pub-
lic question, where the soul of the orator commu-
nicating its fire to its hearers exhibits the splen-
did phaenomena of popular eloquence. An oc-
casion like this was wanting for his display of
constitutional law, where lay his principal strengths
To this his wishes were constantly directed, un -
til they were at length gratified in a manner
most flattering to his fame and fortune.

THE Assembly of Virginia had fixed the sala-
ry of her ministers of religion at 16,000 weight
of tobacco. Owing to the arts of an extrava-
gant speculator of the name of Dickenson, this
commodity rose on a sudden from 16s. and Sd.
per cwt. to 50s. and a law was immediately enact-
ed that the parishioners might pay their dues to
their ministers at 2d. per pound, thereby autho-
rising them to save themselves the difference be-
tween 16s. and 8d. and 50s.

THIS act, styled by its enemies in derision the
two-penny-act, was contested by the clergy with
all the violence which has invariably distinguish-
ed their defence of their own privileges. Camm,
a professor of William and Mary, had written
a pamphlet against it, and he, with several
other ministers had instituted suits against their
respective vestries for the recovery of those
dues, of which they alledged they had been de-
frauded contrary to law. With the great body of
the people the act was popular, and from this we
should perhaps infer that independent of any ad-
vantage they might derive from curtailing their
-Avenues, they were secretly pleased with an oc-

VIRGINIA, $05

oasion cf mortifying a class of men, who unfor- CHAP.

tunately in all countries, have been distinguished IVV

less for piety and forbearance than for arrogance
and ambition.

AMONGST the rest, Mr. Henry, tke uncle of
our orator, had brought suit against his parish,
and had retained the ablest counsel in Virginia.
The nephew was engaged by the vestry, and the
court was crouded at an early hour to witness the
discussion of a cause that had produced so deep
an interest and so wide an agitation. Previous
to the trial, Mr. Henry suggested to his nephew
the indecorum and gracelessness of his appear*
ance against the brother of his father. It was
coolly answered by the young advocate, that he
was without fortune or patronage, and was com-
pelled to rely wholly on himself for advancement
and consideration ; that it was the duty of his fa-
ther's brother to have sought occasions to draw
him into notice, instead of which he had con-
fided his cause to strangers to the obvious dispa-
ragement and slight of the talents of his nephew ;
that neglected thus by his nearest relations, he
had been taken up by the people, and that no con-
sideration should induce him to abandon a cause
to which he was bound equally by his judgment
and inclination. He at the same time emphati-
cally advised his uncle to go home, " for, said
he, you will hear disagreeble things. I think I
am acquainted with this cause, and with the bless-
ing of God I will enforce this day the rights of
the people, and expose the avarice and ambition
of the priests : I know them, said he ; they shall
have justice done this day upon them." Struck
with his manner, Mr. Henry took the advice of
his nephew, and the cause, after a wonderful dis-
play of constitutional learning, according to his
prediction, was adjudged in favour of the vestry.

304 HISTORY OF

CHAP. His next exhibition was before the committee
of privileges and elections, in the disputed elec-
tion between col. Syme, his half bro'iur, and
col. Richard Littlepage. The great right of suf-
frage was a theme still better suited to his genius
and studies ; a theme, however, at this day little
talked of, and less understood. 1'n the hands of
any other man in Virginia this subject would
have excited little curiosity, and have probably
passed off with the cold formalities usual on such
occasions ; but the name of denry was insensibly
growing into celebrity, and the members crauded
from all quarters to witness the phenomenon of
a youth in a plain unfashionable dress, unassisted
b\ fortune or patronage aal education, defining
with accuracy the rights of the people, and stt-
ti.ng bounds to the authority of government;
giving interest to subjects heretofore supposed
unsusceptible of embellishment ; whilst a firm
but modest consciousness of his own worth, dif-
fused over his whole deportment, inspired his
auditors with respect alike for his principles and
talents.

MUCH of the secret of Henry's eloquence 'lay
in his capacity, more perhaps in nis manner:—**-
Without any other knowledge of scenic repre-
sentations, save what was derived from books,
his manner was strikingly dramatic. His eye
was piercing and expressive ; his voice sonorous
and flexible ; his gesture bold even to extrava-
gance ; his manner, which may be likened to the
actlo of the antients, gave to the whole a harmo-
ny, whose effect was irresistible.

BUT the time was approaching when he would
not be tied down to the drudgery of judicial au-
thorities, and when his genius would enjoy am-
ple scope to exert its powers to the very extent of
his ambition. The stamp act afforded a .theme-

VIRGINIA; 305

equally grand and popular : It interested every CHAP,
being in the country; but to the great mass of IV' ,.T
the people it was matter rather of feeling than re-
flection. The historical facts on \\hich rested the
national rights, were known but to a ft w. It was
the good fortune of Mr. Henry to be the first to
enter into an abstract exposition of this great
question, and to render familiar by his perspicu-
bus manner, subjects heretofore buried deep be-
neath the rubbish of antiquity.

WHEN Henry first appeared in the assembly
of Virginia, his name was familiar, though his per-
son was almost wholly unknown. The court
party failed not to remark, with seme appearance
of exultation, his supposed defect in ease and
good breeding ; and by titterings and whispers at-
tempted to embarrass and depress him. The
plainness of his dress and the awkwardness of his
figure furnished new food for ridicule, and the
whole of their court graces were ostentatiously
played off for the purpose of rendering the con-
trast between polish and rusticity more striking
and decisive : But their triumph was short lived.
Soon as the great faculties of his mind began to
enlarge and expand their volumes before them,
their feelings were instantly converted into appre-
hension and astonishment. Expectation being
now at its height, Mr. Henry rose, and having
called the attention of the house to the alarming
pretensions of the English government, arid their
late encroachments on the just rights and liber-
ties of British America, as exemplified in the
late passage of that obnoxious statute, the stamp
act, he offered to the speaker the following reso-
lutions :

" WHEREAS the honourable house of com-
mons in England have of late drawn into ques»
2P

HISTORY OF

tion, how far the general assembly of this colo*
ny hath power to enact law s for la} ing taxes and
imposing duties, payable by the people of this,
his majesty's most ancknt colony; for settling
• and ascertaining the same to all future times, the
house of burgesses of this present general assem-
bly have come to the several following resolutions:

" Resolved, that the first adventurers and set-
tiers of this his majesty's colony and dominion
of Virginia, brought with them, and transmitted
to their posterity, and all other his majesty's
subjects since inhabiting in this his majesty ?s
colony, ail the privileges and immunities that
have at any time been held, enjoyed and posses*
sed by the people of Great Britain.

" Resolved, that by the two royal charters grant-
ed by king James 1. the colonies aforesaid are de-
clared entitled to all the privileges of faithful liege
and natural born subjects, to all intents and pur-
poses, as if they hiid been abiding and born with-
in the realm of England.

" Resolved, that his majesty's most liege peo-
ple of this his mobt ancient colony, have enjoyed
the right of being thus governed by their own as-
sembly, in the article of taxes and internal po-
lice, and that the same have never been forfeited,
nor any other way yielded up, but have been con-
stant!} recognised by the, king and people of
Great Britain.

" Resolved, therefore, that the general assem-
bly of this colony, together with his majesty, or
his substitute, have, in their representative ca pa-
city, the only exclusive right and power to lay
taxes and impositions upon the ii. habitants of thi§
colony ; ar»d that even attempt to vest such pow-
er in any person or persons whatsoever, other
than the puieral assembly aforesaid, is illegal,
unconstitutional and unjust, and has a manifest

VIRGINIA, SO'

tendency to destroy British as well as American CHAP,
freedom.

" Resolved, that his majesty's liege people,
the inhabitants of this colony, are not bound to
yield obedience to any law or ordinance whatso-
ever, designed to impose any taxation whatsoe-
. ver upon them, other than the laws and ordinances
of the general assembly aforesaid.

" Resolved, that any person • wh6 shall, by
speaking or writing, maintain that any other
person or persons, other than the general assem-
bly of this colony, have any right or power to lay
any taxation whatsoever on the people here, shall
be deemed an enemy to this his majesty's co-
lony."

THE speaker having objected to the style of
the resolutions, as too strong and inflU mmatory,
George Johnson of Alexandria, an eminent law-
yer, undertook to support him, and Henry,
roused by opposition, entered at once into an
elaborate investigation of the subject, in the
course of which he displayed so much rare and
profound constitutional learning, such resources
of ingenuity ; a dec! tmation so clear, rapid and
impressive, embellished with a fancy occasion-
ally playful and lofty, as for a moment astonished
and confounded opposition. His arragement of
his discourse was clear ; his division of his subject
eminently simple. " The rights of British Ame-
rica," said he, ' 'are three fold ; chartered, consti-
tutional and natural. The first arose out of our
condition as colonists, and are guaranteed to us
by repeated charters granted by our English
monarchs. They are every where 'recognised in
all our public instruments, in the acts of onr as-
semblies, in the minutes of our councils, in our
judicial proceedings, in our habits, our princi-
ples, in every page and letter of our history, and

308 HISTORY OF

CHAP, until, unfortunately for the British empire j

^^ ' present ministers came into power, no man was

daring enough to call them into question. Our
constitutional rights we inherit as subjects of
Britain. Our fathers brought them along with
them across the Atlantic, and in the midst of
their own unparallelled distresses they cherished
the sacred deposit, and transmitted it unimpaired a
noble bequest to their descendants. These rights,
inste; d of impairing our chartered rights, go to
their absolute confirmation. At the time pf our
emigration we were entitled to all the benefits of
English subjects ; our charters secured to us in
America the benefits we were compelled to relin-
quish in Europe. Instead of parliaments now
too remote, the wisdom of our ancestors devised
the simple but majestic plan of colonial assem-
blies chosen by the people and vested with the
sole power of levying and granting the public
money. Since the year 1619 this right has been
exercised here, and I believe, in every other Ame-
rican colony, to the great benefit and content of
the people. But the claim now arrogantly set up
by ministers would go to the utter annihilation of
both the one arid the other. We are to have no
rights of any kind, either as Englishmen or Ame-
ricans, under the British constitution or Ameri-
can charters.

<c BUT there is a still higher right," said he, " of
which it is attempted to bereave us ; which, al-
though all other rights should be taken away,
no one ought to be found so poor of soul as tamely
to surrender. These are our natural rights, which
we derive from the God of nature. By these
we are taught that the fruits of our labour be-
long exclusively to ourselves, and may not be
taken from us but by our own free will and con-
tent : That man hath a right, and is under an ori~

VIRGINIA.

necessity to ceek his own happiness; that with
this view their lathers had emigrated to America,
and at a vast expense of blood and treasure had re-
claimed the horrid wilderness to arts and civiliza-
tion, and had thereby added incalculably to the
wealth and power of the parent state.

" THESE facts," said the animated orator, "are
well known to the king of Grtat Britain and his
parliaments ; but they have notwithstanding per-
sis'ed, and it becomes the solemn duty of North-
America, and more especially of this ancient co-
lony, ev r conspicuous for her devotion to liber-
ty, to restore them to their senses."

HERE he entered into an historical enumera-
tion of th:jse examples of successful resistance to
Oppression which rendered glorious the annals
of Koine and England, and concluded with this
dreadful warning, which connected with its sub-
sequent fulfilment, seemed like the inspiration of
prophecy. '* Caesar," said he, " had his Brutus,
Charles his Cromwell and (pausing) George the
third, (here a cry of treason, treason was heard,
supposed to issue from the chair, but with
admirable presence of mind he proceeded) may
profit by their examples. Sir, if this be treason,"
continued he, "make the most of it."

THIS speech, of which only a sketch is given,
was frequently interrupted with the cry of hear,
hear, and the resolutions were passed by a large
majority, forty only having voted against them.

ACIRCUMSTANCE occurred, however, which
had well nigh deteated their intentions. Secure
of the victory they had already gained, many of
the patriots had procured leave of absence for
the purpose of visiting their families, and the
opposition emboldened by so considerable a de-
fection, moved that the resolutions should be re-
scinded from the journals. This me4n and un-

a 10 HISTORY OF

CHAP, worthy artifice was reprobated by Mr. Henry irt
IV« the most unqualified language of contempt and
indignation. He concluded by calling upon the
friends of liberty to secede, and leave to those
men the whole responsibility of a measure calcu-
lated so vitally to affect the interest and character
of Virginia.

THIS motion effectually brought them to their
senses. They alledged that their opposition pro-
ceedecl solely from a wish to effect a restora-
tion of harmony, rather from the justice than the
fears of the mother country, and that in their
judgment the effect of those resolutions would ra-
ther be to irritate than persuade : They pro-
mised, however, to withdraw all farther opposi-
tion, provided the two last resolutions were with-
drawn. Mr. Henry rightly judging that the sa-
crifice of two resolutions, whose meaning was
substantially preserved in those which would re-
main, was of no value compared with unanimity,
the terms wt re accepted.

STRUCK with the alarming tendency of these
proceedings, the governor suddenly dissolved
the assembly, and writs were immediately issued
for a new election : But the resolutions of the as-
sembly were the sentiments of the people, and
in almost every instance those who had voted for
their adoption were re-elected, whilst their oppo-
nents were with as little exception excluded.

THE spirited behaviour of the assembly of
Virginia had a wonderful effect in animating and
con firm ing the zeal of the other colonies, and pub-
lic'testimonies were not wanting of the exalted
opinion entertained by them of her courage and
wisdom. Similar resolutions to those of Virginia
were generally adopted. Those of Massachu-
setts were enforced by a recommendation of an
American v congress of deputies, to be appoint.

VIRGINIA. 311

«d by the colonial legislatures, and which should CHAP.
n tetat New York in October, ** for the purpose _ vy
ot consulting together on the present circum- "
stances of the colonies, and the difficulties to
which they arc and must be reduced by the ope-
ration of the acts of parliament for lev) ing taxes."

THIS recommendation, notwithstanding the
shortness of the notice, was received with all the
respect and attention usually paid to the acts of
established authority. The deputies of nine pjrst ^me-
states met at the appointed time, and a ballot rican con-
having taken place, Timothy Rutgk-s cf Massa-
chubetts, was appointed president. The time of
this body being too valuable, and their business
too important to be employed in idle debate and
impertinent formalities, with one consent they
entered immediately on the subject for whose
deliberation they had been appointed. The first
act of this body after their organization was a so-
lemn declaration of rights, which was ordered to
be inserted in their minutes.

" THE members of this congress," say they,
".sincerely devoted, with the warmest sentiments
of affection and fluty to his majesty's person and
government, inviolably attached "to the present
establishment of the protestant succession, and
with minds deeply impressed with a sense of the
present and impending misfortunes of thus British
colonies on this continent ; having considered as
maturely as time w ill permit, the circumstances
cf said colonies, esteem it our indispensable duty
to make the following declarations of our humble
opinion respecting the most essential rights and
liberties of the colonists, and of the grievances
under which they labour, by reason of several
late acts of paiiiument.

" 1. THAT his majesty's subjects in these co-
lonies, owe the bailie allegiance 10 the crown of

312 HISTORY OF

CHAP. Great Britain, that is owing from his subjects
IV- born within the realm, and all due subordination
to that august body the parliament of G. Britain.

"II. THAT his majesty's liege subjects in
these colonies, are entitled to all the inherent
rights and liberties of his natural born subjects,
within the kingdom of Great Britain.

"III. THAT it is inseparably essential to the
freedom of a people, and the undoubted right of
Englishmen, that no taxes be imposed on them
but with their own consent, given personally or
by their representatives.

" IV. THAT the people of these colonies are
not, and from their local circumstances cannot be5
represented in the house of commons in Great
Britain.

" V. THAT the only representatives of the
people of these colonies are persons chosen there-
in by themselves, and that no taxes ever have
been, or can be constitutionally imposed on them
but by their own respective legislatures.

" VI. THAT all supplies to the crown being
free gifts of the people, it is unreasonable and
inconsistent with the principles and spirit of the
British constitution, tor the people ol Great Bri-
tain to grant to his majesty the property of the co-
lonists.

" vll. THAT trial by jury is the inherent and
invaluable right of every British subject in these
colonies.

"VIII. THAT the late act of parliament, enti-
tled " An act for granting and applying certain
stamp duties, and other duties in the British co-
lonies a^d plantations in America, Sec." by im-
posing taxes on the inhabitants of the^e coK>ni< sf
and the said act, and several other acts, by ex-
tending the jurisdiction of the courts of admiralty
beyond its ancient limits, have a manifest ten-

VIRGINIA. 3 IS

dency to subvert the rights and liberties of the CHAP,
colonists. IV<

" IX. TH A T the duties imposed by several late
acts of parliament, from the peculiar circum-
stances of these colonies, will be extremely bur-
thensome and grievous, and from the scarcity of
specie, the payment of them absolutely imprac-
ticable.

" X. THAT as the profits of the trade of these
colonies ultimately center in Great Britain, to
pay for the manufactures which they are obliged
to take from thence, they eventually contribute
very largely to all supplies granted diere to the
crown.

" XL THAT the restrictions imposed by seve-
ral late acts of parliament on the trade of these
colonies, will render them unable to purchase
the manufactures of Great Britain.

" XII". THAT the increase, prosperity and hap-
piness of these colonies depend on the full and
free enjoyment of their rights and liberties, and
an intercourse with Great Britain mutually affec-
tionate and advantageous.

" XIII. THAT it is the right of the British
subjects in these colonies to petition the king, or
either house of parliament.

" LASTLY, that it is the indispensable duty of
these colonies, to the best of sovereigns, to the
mother country, and to themselves, to endeavour
by a loyal and dutiful address to his majesty, and
humble applications to both houses of parlia-
ment, to procure the repeal of the act for grant-
ing and applying certain stamp duties, of all
clauses of any other acts of parliament, whereby
the jurisdiction of the admiralty is extended as
aforesaid, and of the other late acts for the re-
striction of American commerce.
2Q

314 HISTORY OF

CHAP. COMMITTEES were immediately appointed Fof
lv- _ the purpose of drafting petitions to the king and
commons, and a memorial to the house of lords.
These papers, having been reported to the house,
were unanimously adopted. Indeed, nothing
r could have been more entirely unexceptionable

than the style and matter of these papers. It
was the language of complaint, not rude and bois-
terous ; but tender, respectful and affectionate:
They speak, indeed, of invaded rights and vio-
lated compacts ; but nothing resentful or vin-
dictive is uttered, and the conduct of the parent
state is ascribed rather to mistaken policy than to
any deliberate design to enslave or depress them.
But whilst they proceed in this temperate strain,
nothing is omitted which can shew their absolute
conviction of the justice of their claims, and
their firm resolution to support them. Happy
had it been for Britain, if, touched by the tender
reproof contained in them, and influenced by their
good sense, she had abandonded at once and for
ever her selfish and unfounded pretensions. To
the king they say, " The continuation of these
liberties to the inhabitants of America we ardent-
ly irnplore, as absolutely necessary to unite the
several parts of your wide extended dominions,
in that harmony so essential to the preservation and
happiness of the whole. Protected in these liber-
tits, the emoluments Great Britain receives from
us, however great at present, are inconsiderable,
compared \vith those she has the fairest prospect
of acquiring. By this protection she will fore-
's re to herself the advantage of conveying
io ail Europe, the nierckn-ciists which America
furnishes, and of supplying through the same
channel whatever is wanted from thence. Here
^ opens a boundless source of wealth and naval
strength; yet these immense advantages, by the

VIRGINIA, 31

abridgement of those invaluable rights and liber- CHAP.
ties, by which our growth has been nourished,
are in danger of being forever lost ; and our sub-
ordinate legislatures, in effect, rendered useless by
the late acts of parliament imposing taxes on
these colonies, and extending t£e jurisdiction of
the court of admiralty here, beyond its ancient
limits; statutes by which your majesty's com-
mons in Britain undertake absolutely to dispose
of the property of their fellow subjects in Ame-
rica, without their consent, and for the enforc-
ing whereof, they are subjected to the determi-
nation of a single judge in a court unrestrained
by the wise rules of the common law, the birth-
right of Englishmen, and the safeguard of their
persons and properties.

" THE invaluable rights of taxing ourselves,
and trial by our peers, of which we implore your
majesty's protection; ^are not, we most humbly
conceive, unconstitutional; but confirmed by the
great charter of English liberty. On the first of
these rights, the honourable the house of com-
mons found their practice of originating money
bills, a right enjoyed by the kingdom of Ireland,
by the clergy of England, until relinquished by
themselves, a right, in line, which all other your
majesty's English subjects, both within and with-
out the realm, have hitherto enjoyed.

si WITH hearts, therefore, impressed with the
mostjndelible character of gratitude to your ma-
jesty, and to the memory of the kings of your
illustrious house, whose reigns have been signal-
ly distinguished by thrir auspicious influence on
the prosperity of the British dominie con-

:d by the most affecting proofs ma-

jesty's piternal love to all your /ever

.nt, and your unceasing ancl b it de-

sires to promote their happiness, we most hum-

316 HISTORY OF

CHAP* bly beseech your majesty, that you will be
IV- ciously pleased to take into your royal conside-
ration the distresses of your faithful subjects on
this continent, and to lay the same before 3 our
majesty's parliament, and to afford them such re-
lief, as in your royal wisdom their unhappy cir-
cumstances shall be judged to require."

THEIR petition to the commons embraces a
wider range, and dwells with greater force and
minuteness upon the several grounds of dispute.
It states, u That the several late acts of parlia-
ment, imposing divers duties and taxes on the
colonies, and laying the trade and commerce
thereof under very burthensome restrictions, but
above all the act for granting and applying cer-
tain stamp duties, &c. in America, have filled
them with the deepest concern and surprise ; and
they humbly conceive the execution of them will be
attended with consequences very injurious to the
commercial interest of Great Britain and her co-
lonies, and must terminate in the eventual ruin of
the latter.

" WE most sincerely recognise," said they,
" our allegiance to the crown, and acknowledge
all due subordination to the parliament of GifcU
Britain, and shall always retain tl : grateful

sense of their assistance and protection, it is
from and under the English constitution we de-
rive all our civil and religious rights and li
ties; we glory in being £ubjecfcs ol st of

kings, and having been born under the mo&t per-
fect form of government; but it is with most ineffa-
ble and humiliating sorrow, that we rj id ourselves y
of late, deprived of the right of grant i gour own
property for his majesty's service, to which our
lives and fortunes are entirely devoted, and to
which, on his roya! requisitions, we have ever been
iready to contribute to tb: utmost of our abilities

VIRGINIA J17

v E have also the misfortune to find that al! CHAP.
the penalties and forfeitures mentioned in the _
stamp act, and in divers late acts of trade ex-
tending to the plantations, are, at the election of
the informer, recoverable in any court of admi-
ral :y in America. This, as the newly erected
court of admiralty, has a general jurisdiction over
all British America, renders his majesty's sub-
jects in these colonies, liable to be carried, at an
immense expense, from one end of the conti-
nent to the other.

« IT gives us also great pain to see a manifest
distinction made therein, between the subjects of
our mother country and those in the colonies, in
that the like penalties and forfeitures recoverable
there only in his majesty court of record, are made
cognizable here by a court of admiralty ; bv these
means we seem to be, in effect, unhappily de-
prived of two privileges essential to freedom, and
Xvhichall Englishmen have ever considered as their
best birthrights, that of being free from all taxes
but such as they have consented to in person, or
by their representatives, ;f trial by their

peers.

'*' YOUR petitioners further shew, that the re-
mote situation, and other circumstances of the
colonies, render it impracticable that they should
be represented but in their respective subordi-
nate legislatures; and they humbly conceive that
the parliament, adhering strictly to tiie principles
of the constitution, have never hitherto taxed any
but those who were actually therein represented ;
for this reason, we humbly apprehend, they ne-
ver have taxed Ireland, or any of the subjects
without the realm.

" BUT were it ever so chc*-, that the colonies
might m 1-^.v be .ed to be repre-

sented in the honourable house of commons.

318 HISTORY OF

CHAP, <ve conceive that very good reasons, from incon-
venience, from the principles of true policy, and
from the spirit of the British constitution, may
be adduced to shew, that it would be for the real
interest of Great Britain, as well as her colonies,
-.hat the late regulations should be rescinded, and
the several acts of parliament imposing duties
and taxes en the colonies, and extending the ju
risdiction of the courts of admiralty here, be-
yond their ancient limits, should be repealed.

" WE shall not attempt a minute detail of all
die reasons which the wisdom of the honourable
.iiggest, on this occasion, but would
'iirrjbly submit the following particulars to their
consideration.

Ci THAT money is already become very scarce
,, in these colonies, and is still decreasing by the
necessary exportation of specie from the conti-
, for tlis dircharge of our debts to British •
rne; e

i( THAT -in immensely heavy debt is yet due
from the colonies for British manufactures, and
dial they arc btiil heavily burthened with taxes to
discharge the arrearages due for aids granted by
•:hcm in tre lute \yar.

" THAT the balance of trade will ever be
h against the colonies, and in favour of
t Britain, whilst we consume her manufac-
•:., the demand for which must ever increase
in proportion to the number of inhabitants settled
. , with the means of purchasing them. We
therefore humbly conceive it to be the interest of
in to increase, rather thabi diminish,
i, as the profits of ail the trade of the
" :nately center there to pay for her rna-
arc not allowed to purchase
• e ; :i,nd by the consumption of which, at
ices the British taxes oblige the

VIRGINIA, 31

mak-. v enders to set on them, we eventu-

ally contribute very largely to the revenue of the
crown.

" THAT fromthe nature of American business,
the multiplicity of suits and papers used in mut-
ters of small value in a country were freeholds are
iinutely divided, and property so frequently
transferred, a stamp duty must ever be very bur-
i.hensome and unequal.

" THAT it is extremely improbable that the
honourable house of commons should, at all times,
be thoroughly acquainted with our condition, and
all facts requisite to a just and equal taxation of
the c

" IT is alio humbly submitted, whether there
be not a material distinction in reason and sound
policy, at least, n the necessary exercise

irliaraeiitary jurisdiction in general acts, for
the amendment of the common law, and the re-
guiation of trade and commerce through the
\vhole empire, and the exercise of that jurisdic-
tion, by imposing taxes on the colonies.

*' THAT the several subordinate provincial le-
gislatures have -been moulded into forms, as near-
ly resembling that of their mother country, as
by his majesty's royal predecessors was thought
convenient; and their legislatures seem to have
been wisely and graciously established, that the
subjects in the colonies might, under the due ad-
ministration thereof, enjoy the happy fruits of the
British ;. .':'nt, which in their present cir-

cumstances they cannot be so fully and clearly
availed <• her way under these forms of go-

vernment we and our ancestors have been born
or settled, and have had our lives, liberties and
properties protected. The people here, as every
\vhete else, retain a great fondness for their old
customs and usages, and we trust that his ma-

320 HISTORY Ob

jesty's service, and the interest of the nation, so
far from being obstructed, have been vasty pro-
moted by the provincial legislatures.

" THAT we esteem our connections with, and
dependance on Great Britain, as one of our great-
est blessings, and apprehend that the latter wilk
appear to be sufficiently secure, when it is con-
sidered that the inhabitants in the colonies have
the most unbounded affection for his majesty's
person, family and government, as well as for
the mother country, arid that their subordination,
to the parliament is universally acknowledged.

" WE therefore most humbly entreat, that the
honourable house would be pleased to hear our
counsel in support of this petition, and take our
distressed and deplorable case into their serious
consideration, and that the acts and clauses of
acts, so grievously restraining our trade and com-
merce, imposing duties and taxes on our pro-
perty, and extending the jurisdiction of the court
of admiralty beyond its ancient limits, may be
repealed; or that the honourable house would
otherwise relieve your petitioners, as in your
great wisdom and goodness shall seem meet"

THE deputies of six only, out of the nine co-
lonies represented at this congress, signed the
proceeedings. This circumstance, calculated at
first sight to convey a suspicion of distrust and
division, is thus satisfactorily explained iu their
letter to the principal agent in London :

u THE lieutenant governor of New York pro-
rogued their assembly from time to time, b j that
their house had not an apportunity* of appoint-
ing members with full powers to join, and sign
the address, &c. Yet the assembly ol Ntw
York having, at their last meeting, appc,
five of their members as a committee-, not
to correspond with their agent at home, mat also

VIRGINIA. 321

during the recess of the house to write to and cor- CHAP,
respond with the several assemblies or commit-
tees of assemblies on this continent, on the sub-
ject matter of the several late acts of parliament?
so grievous and dangerous to their colonies, it
was thought proper to admit this committee to
join in the conferences, and they agreed to what
was done, and promised to use their endea-
vours with their assembly to concur also whene-
ver they should be permitted to meet.

"THE South Carolina assembly, not rightly
viewing the proposal (which originally came from,
the assembly of the government of the Massa-
chusetts Bay) as it was intended that the several
committees, when met, should frame and sign
an address to his majesty, and memorial and pe-
tition to the parliament, to be immediately dis-
patched by the congress, instructed their mem-
bers (Messrs. Lynch, Rutledge and Gadsden) to
return their proceedings to them for approbation.
The Connecticut assembly made the same re-
strictions in their instructions. The assembly
also of New Hampshire wrote that they had re-
solved, that notwithstanding they were sensible
such a representation ought to be made, and ap-
proved of the proposed method for obtaining
thereof, yet the present situation of their govern-
mental affairs would not permit them to appoint a
committee to attend such meeting, but should
be ready to join in any address to his majesty and
the parliament they might be honoured with the
knowledge of, probable to answer the proposed
end ; and the speaker of the assembly of Georgia
wrote, that a majority of their members had ap-
plied to the governor to call their assembly, and
he did not think it expedient, which was the reason
did not send a committee as proposed, but

22 HISTORY OF

CHAP, requested us to transmit a copy of our proceed-
_ ings to them, (which will be done) and that their
" assembly would meet about this time, and he did
not doubt but they should so act as to convince
the sister colonies of their inviolable attachment
to the common cause. We also understood the
North Carolina, and we know the Virginia as-
sembly was prorogued, whereby they could not
have the opportunity of joining us ; so that we doubt
not but the colonies who have not signed, will
very speedily transmit similar addresses, if their
assemblies should not be hindered from meeting ;
and to this purpose, we hope you will soon hear
from the assembly of South Carolina."*

* The following estimates of the receipts and expendi-
tures of this v,rtuo.us body may furnish a hint to the advo-
cate* of taxes, of a national debt and splendid establishments.
Justly has it been said, that the trappings of monarchy arc
more than infficunt to set up a republic.

An account of the disposition of the 500/. granted by ordinance,
and received of the trea9urfr by William blurdock, £d*
ward 'l'iltshn:*n} and Thtrnas Ringgotd.

To cash paid the L. s. d. By cash received of the trea-

whole expenses surer in gold, 500/. at 5s.

of the committee 6rf. per dwt. as follows :

to N. York, there L. s. d.

and .back again, 138 14 1 409 Spanish pis-

To cabh paid ex- Ides, at 27s. 532 3 0

pres to N. Yoik, 5 Half johan-

to give notice of ncs, at 57/6. - 14 7 6

our coming, - - 1/5 A French pis-

To cash pad for toles,at26*.

express, to send and 6d. - - 5 6 0

a copy of our 1 Moidore, - - 236

proceedings to 1 Half do. - - 1 1 9
the speaker of

•Virginia, - - - 1 10

To cash paid for
bill of exchange,

VIRGINIA. 323

MEANWHILE a change of ministry had unex-
pectedly taken place in England, and hopes ucrc
entertained, not without reason, that American
grievances would experience at least an unpreju-
diced if not favourable hearing. It was known uidi
certainty, that a majority ot the new administra-
tion was composed of whigs, who could not, it
was thought, consistently with their own princi-
ples, give their sanction to measures affecting me
security of their fellow subjects. Before judges
such as these, reasoning from analogies, tue
claims of America would be listened to with ad-
miration and sympathy, and their wrongs redres-
sed with effect and decision. It was known, how-
ever, that particular members were avowedly hos-
tile to the plan of American taxation hi any
shape.

IN England the parliamentary debut of the Meeting of
new ministers was watched with scarcely less so- parliament,
licitude. It was every where regarded as the
opening of a drama, whose plot had excited uni-
versal expectation, and whose denouement would
operate either prosperity or disaster on the na-
tion. Under these circumstances of anxiety and
hope, of assurance and apprehension, the ses-
sion was opened by a speech from the throne,
from whose mild and conciliatory spirit much

to remit to Chs.
Garth, csq. with
the address and
petitions, I50/.
sterling, at fi5
per cent, exchg. 247 10
Gash remaining in
hand 127 pistoles
and 18». and 8d. 172 7 8

575 19 57* 1

324 HISTORY OF

CHAP, good was expected, both in Europe and

ca. It evinced a wish to recede, on the part of
the administration, provided it could be effected
without any derogation of the authority of par-
liament, or any express surrender of the rights
contended for. But by the friends and partisans
of the last administration, the papers relating to
the disturbances in America, were represented as
deliberate and concerted efforts to throw oft' all
allegiance to the mother country, and the various
remonstrances from towns, cities and corporati-
ons in that country, as the effects of ministerial
artifice, to prepare the public mind for the repeal
of this salutary statute. Whist the house waver-
ed between these conflicting opinions, Mr. Pitt
rose, and after some general observations, deli-
vered his sentiments on the merits of this fa-
mous statute.

UHE pronounced every capital measure taken
by the late ministers to have been entirely wrong.
As to the present ministers, though he acknow-
ledged them to be men of fair characters, and
such as he was happy to see engaged in his majes-
ty's service, he professed that he could not give
them his confidence. •' Confidence," said he,
" is a plant of slow growth in an aged bosom ; —
youth is the season of credulity. By comparing
events with each other, reasoning from effects to
causes, methinks I plainly discover the traces of
an over-ruLng influence, I have had the honour
to serve the crown ; and could I have submitted
to influence^ I might still have continued to serve ;
but I would not be responsible for others. I have
no local attachments. It is indifferent to me,
whether a man was rocked in his cradle on this
side or that side of the Tweed. I countenanced
and protected merit wherever it was to be found.
It is my boast, that I was the first minister who

VIRGINIA. 325

.ought tor it in the mountains of the north — I call- ^V^P*
ed it forth, and drew into your service an hardy
and intrepid race of men, who were once dread-
ed as the inveterate enemies of the state. \V
I ceased to serve his majesty as a minister, it
not the country of the man by which I was ITK
but the man of that country held principles in-
compatible with freedom, it is a long time,
Speaker, since I have attended in parliament ;
when the resolution was taken in this house to
tax America, I was ill in bed. if I could have
endured to have been carried in my bed, so great
was the agitation of my mind for the conse-
quences, 1 would have solicited some kind hnnd
to have laid me down on this floor to have borne
my testimony against it. It is my opinion,
this kingdom has no right to lay a tax upon
colonies. At the same time, I assert the autho-
:ngdom to be sovereign and supreme
in every circumstance of government and ! .
:n whatsoever. Taxation is no part ol
•ruing or legislative power ; the taxes are a
ntary gift and grant of the commons alone.
The concurrence of the peers and of the crown
is necessary only as a form of law. This house
represents the commons of Great Britain. V,"
in this house we give and grant, therefore, 'we give
grant what is our own ; but can we give and
grant the property of the commons of America ?
It is an absurdity in terms. There is an idea
in some, that the colonies are virtu..-
ed in this house. 1 would fain know by whom ?
The idea of virtual representation is the most
contemptible that ever entered into the head of a
man ; it does not deserve a serious refutation.
The commons in America, represented in their
ral assemblies, have invariably exercised this
Institutional right of giving and grant

326 HISTORY OF

own money ; they would have been slaves if they
had not enjoyed it. At the same time, this king-
dom has ever possessed the power of legislative
and commercial controul . The colonies acknow-
ledge your authority in all things, with the sole
exception that you shall not take their money
out of their pockets without their consent. Here
would I draw the line — quam ult/a citraquc ne~
quit consistere rectum*" After some minutes of
profound silence, Mr. Grenville stood up, and
with all the systematic obstinacy of a sincere but
cloudy and narrow mind entangled in the web of
its own sophistry, entered into a laboured vindi-
cation of the measures of his administration. He
asserted, that the tumult in America bordered
on open rebellion ; and if the doctrine promul-
gated that day were confirmed, he feared they
would lose this name to take that of revolution.
He affirmed taxation to be a .branch of the sove-
reign power, and that it had been frequently ex-
ercised over those who were never represented ;
it was exercised over the East India and other
chartered companies, and over the proprietors of
stock, and many great manufacturing towns. It
was exercised over the palatinate of Chester and
the Bishopbric of Durham, before they sent re-
presentatives to parliament. He appealed for
proofs to the preamble of the act which gave them
representatives, and which by his desire was read
to the house. He said, that when he proposed to
tax America, the right was by no one called in
question. Protection and obedience were reci-
procal ; Great Britain protects America ; Ame-
rica is therefore bound to yield obedience. " If
not, tell me," said he, " when were the Americans
emancipated ? The seditious spirit of the colo-
nies owes its birth to the factions in this house,
were told we trode on tender, ground ; we

VIRGINIA. 327

.e bid to expect disobedience; what was this CHAP.
but telling America to stand out against the law ?
to encourage their obstinacy \vith the expectation
of support from hence ? Ungrateful people of
America ! The nation has run itself into an im-
mense debt to give them protection ; bounties
have been extended to them ; in their favour the
Act of Navigation, that palladium of British
commerce, has been relaxed • and now they are
called upon to contribute a small share towards
the public expense, they renounce ycur authori-
ty, insult your officers, arid break out, I might
almost say, into open rebellion."

" MR. PITT, fired with disdain and resent-
ment, immediately rose to reply, but was called
to order by lord Strange, as having already spo-
ken ; the privilege of speaking a second time be-
ing allowed only in a committee. But the house
resounding with die cry of go on, he proceeded
with an animation and enthusiasm which no art
or study can imitate, spontaneously flowing from
the consciousness of great talents engaged in a
just and noble cause. u Sir," said he, address-
ing the speaker, "a charge is brought against
gentlemen sitting in this house, for giving birth
to sedition in America. The freedom with which
they have spoken LheL* sentiments against this
unhappy act, is imputed to them as a crime ;
but the imputation shall not discourage me. It is
a liberty which 1 hope no gentleman will be
afraid to exercise; it is a liberty by which the
gentleman who calumniates it might have pro-
iited. He ought to have desisted from his pro-
ject. We are told America is obstinate — Ame-
rica is almost in open rebellion. Sir, I rejoice
that America has resisted ; three millions of peo-
ple so dead to all the feelings of liberty, as vo-
hintarily to submit to be slaves, would have

3*8 HISTORY Of

CHAP, fit instruments to make slaves of all the rest. I
y* came not here armed at all points with law cases
and acts of parliament, with the statute-book
doubled down in dogs ears, to defend the cause
of liberty ; but for the defence of liberty upon a
general, constitutional principle — it is a ground
on which 1 dare meet any man. I will not debate
points of law ; but what after all do the cases
of Chester and Durham prove, but that tinder
the most arbitrary reigns, parliament were asham-
ed of taxing a people without their consent, and
allowed them representatives ? A higher and bet-
ter example might have been taken from Wales ;
that principality was never taxed by parliament
till it was incorporated with England. We are
told of many classes of persons in this kingdom
not represented in parliament ; but are they not
all virtually represented as Englishmen resident
within the realm ? Have they not the option, ma-
ny of them at least, of becoming1 themselves elec-
tors ? Every inhabitant of this kingdom is neces-
sarily included in the general system of represen-
tation. It is a misfortune that more are not actu-
ally represented. The honourable gentleman
boasts of his bounties to America. Are not these
bounties intended finally for the bent fit of this
kingdom? If they are not, he has misapplied the
national treasures. I am no courtier of America
— I maintain that parliament has a right to bind,
to restrain America. Our legislative power over
the colonies is sovereign and supreme. The ho-
nourable gentleman tells us, he understands not
the difference between intern:;! arid external tax-
\; but surely there is a plain deduction be-
tween taxes levied for the purpose of raising a
me, and duties i raj: • trie regulation of

commerce. * Wh-.'n,' :vi«ci the >io gen-

tleman, 'were the cuuuicipated '"

TIRGINIA, 329

tirhat time, say I in answer, were they tmtfe
slaves? I speak from accurate knowledge when I
say, that the profit to Great Britain from the
trade of the colonies, through all its branches, is
two millions per annum. This is the fund, which
carried you triumphant through the last war;
this is the price America pays you for her pro-
tection ; and shall a miserable financier come with
a boast that he can fetch a pepper corn into the
exchequer at the loss of millions to the nation ?
I know the valour of your troops — I know the
skill of your officers — I know the force of this
country ; but in such a cause your success would
be hazardous. America, if she fell, would fall
like a strong man ; she would embrace the pillars
of the state, and pull down the contention with
her. Is this your boasted peace ? Not to sheathe
the sword in the scabbard, but to sheathe it in
the bowels of your countrymen ? The Americans
have been wronged ; they have been driven to
madness by injustice. Will you punish them for
the madness you have occasioned ? No : Let this
country be the first to resume its prudence and
temper ; I will pledge myself for the colonies,
that, on their part, animosity and resentment
will oeasc. Let affection be the only bond of co-
ercion. The system of policy 1 would earnesiy
exhort Great Britain to adopt, in relation to
America, is happily expressed in the words of a
favourite poet :

" Be to her faults a little blind,

u Be to her virtues very kind ;

*4 Lc t all t»er ways be unconfined,

w And clap your padlock on her mind.'*

PRIOR.

Upon the whole, I will beg leave to tell the house
in a lew words what is really my opinion. It is,
2S

330 HISTORY OF

CHAP. That the Stamp Act be repealed, absolutely, totally,
?v ana immediately."

ft IN a short time a bill was brought in by the
re w ministers for this purpose, which, aiver very-
vehement opposition, passed both houses by con-
siderabh majorities, and received the royal as-
sent: accompanied at the same time wi\h a de-
claratory act, asserting the power and right cf
Great Britain to bind the colonies in all cases
whatsoever."*

NOTHING could exceed the joy of America at
Joy pro- this seasonable act of justice and good policy,
duced in Those ill humours which had been long collect-
by^epTai of *n£' arc^ l°vvcrt(l like a dark cloud over the poli-
stamp-act. tical horizon, wab dissipated in a moment, and
was succeeded by a clear a,;d cheering sun- shine.
Public rejoicii gs took place in all the- principal
towns and sea ports, in which taste anele:x:
vied with each in expressing the public gratimde
and exultation : The whole country exhibited me
apjearmce of a national tiiumph; general illu-
minations and popular processions, statues and
monuments, \vi»h appropriate devices, executed
by able anists, in a style of simple grandeur;
patriotic songs and toasts, severally contributed
toanin ate the public joy, and render it correct
and lastiiig. But in the midst of the general en-
thusiasm, the public gratitude was nicely discri-
minative, and a just distinction was plainly
drawn between the active virtues oi their sup
porters in the British parliament, and those men
who had yielded to the justice of their claims only
through fear and necessity : Chatham and Cam-
den, Burk and Bane, were familiar to every
ear. Nor did they forget the generous exertions

VIRGINIA. 331

of their own worthies, whose steady wisdom and CHAP.
dauntless intrepidity in their assemblies, had _ 1V>
commenced the assault, and bore the brunt of the "
battle.

IN the midst of these rejoicings, it did not
escape the sagacity of the people that the declara-
tory resolution with which the lepeal was accom-
panied, was suggested with a view to future en-
croachment : But it was attended with the bene-
ficial effect of rendering them more jealous and
vigilant, and would prevent them from relapsing
into the langour of a false and fatal security. Per-
haps, too, it might have been only a salvo to the
wounded and mortified pride of authority ; and
the main object having been attained, it was re-
garded as an unreasonable jealousy to create un-
easiness, by anticipating the possibility of fu-
ture aggression.

THE assembly of Virginia received the ac-
count of this important measure with a joy pro-
portioned to their wise and brilliant exertions.
In the first effusions of thtir gratitude, a reso-
lution was adopted for erecting an obelisk to
those distinguished patriots who effected the re-
peal of the stamp act. An address of thanks
was immediately voced to the king and parlia-
ment, in which all their former assurances of loy-
alty and attachment were repeated. The} had
previously in their answer to the governor's com-
munication, expressed iheir satisfaction that no
riots or popular excesses had stained the reputa-
tion of Virginia, during the late unfortunate sus-
pension of her constitution; " a circumstance,"
say they, " which should be ascribed to a con-
viction that the triumph of the oppressor would
be short, and that justice would be done to the
loyalty and rights of Virginia."

332 HISTORY OF

FROM these consolatory topics, their attention,
was all at once directed to the discovery of a
most alarming defalcation in her treasury. The
suspicions of several individuals had for some
time fallen on the treasurer, owing to certain
usurious contracts with which his name had been
connecttd. This man had been a servile instru-
ment of government, and it was not improbable
that the peculation might have been employed in
debauching the integrity op members of assem-
bly, as well as forwarding schemes of personal
aggrandizement. By the spirited exertions of
Bichard Henry Lee, Peter Lyon and Edmund
Ptndleton, an inquiry was immediately instituted,
and the result was of a nature to astonish and
confound the assembly.

ACCORDING to a report made on this subject,
12, ft apf>eared that this man, in whose person were
united the important offices of speaker and trea-
surer, had made free with more than one hunch rd
thousand pounds of the public money ; and this
loss was aggravated by the melancholy conside-
ration that the treasury was empty.

To recover this money, the measures of the
house were prompt and decisive, and the com-
mittee was directed to proceed against the delin-
quent, whose estate was considerable, and to con-
tinue their investigation with the view to the dis-
covery of sums loaned by him. This was a
shock too powerful for the sensibility of Mr. Ro-
binson, and he sank tinder the load of general
obloquy, rendered more insupportable by the
acute sting of his own reflection. On this event
the committee of assembly administered on his
estate, and by skilful management, sufficknt was
eventually collected to cover the dilapidation.

THE detection of this peculation directed their
attention to the glaring impropriety of concen^

VIRGINIA.

ttating in a single person, powers so extensive CHAP,
and incompatible as those of speaker and trea- _
surer ; and an animated pretest was entered up
against their future union. This was not a time
to oppose a measure so obviously founded on.
reason and good policy ; and the house having
made choice of Peyton Randolph for their speak-
er, Robert Carter Nicholas was appointed trea-
surer with the concurrent approbation of the
different branches oi government and the people
at large, to whom they were endeared by theif
public and private virtues.

TH ERE was a session of assembly in this year : 1757,
But it was distinguished by no measures of im-
portance, owing, it is supposed, to the illness of
the governor, whose health \vas hourly declining.
The committee of inquiry made a second report
of thtir proceeding . respecting the late treasurer :
The amount of the deficit was better defined,
and the prospect oi recovering the public money
rendered brighter and more distinct. The house
appeared to be wholly directed to effecting order
and arrangement in the finances.

ABOUT this time died Francis Fauquier, lieu-
tenant governor, at the age of 65 years, ten of
whi :h had been passed in Virginia,

WITH some allowance, he was every thing Character
that could have been wished for by Virginia un- oi Fauquier
dcr a royal government. Generous, liberal, ele*
gant in his manners. and acquirements; his ex-
ample left an impression of tiste, refinement a id
erudition on the character of the colony, \\]
eminently contributed to ks present hi^h n
tatio'.i in the arts. It is stated on evidence
ciently authentic, that on the return of An
from his circumnavigation of the earth, he
Lily fell : Fauquier, fro-n *.vhom

night's piaj , lie won at cards the whole of

334

HISTORY Ol

his patrimony ; th it afterwards being captivated
by the striking graces of this gentleman's per-
son and conversation, he procured for him the
government of Virginia. Unreclaimed by the
former subversion of his fortune, he introduced
the same fatal propensity to gaming into Virginia ;
and the example of so many virtues and accom-
plishments alloyed but by a single vice, was but
too successful in extending the influence of this
pernicious and ruinous practice. He found
amongst the people of his new government, a
character compounded of the same elements as
his own ; and he found little difficulty in render-
ing fashionable a practice, which had before his
arrival already prevailed to an alarming extent.
During the recess of the courts of judicature and
assemblies, he visited the most distinguished
landholders in the colonies, and the rage of play-
ing deep, reckless of time, health, or money,
spread like a contagion amongst a class prover-
bial for their hospitality, their politeness and
fondness for ex pence. In every thing beside,
Fauquier was the ornament and the delight of
Virginia.

His death devolved the duties of government
IV:'ir,T?resi- on John Blair, president of council ; and the late
governor having by proclamation summoned the
assembly to meet previous to the time to which
they had been adjourned, the president by pro-
clamation directed that they should convene at
the time appointed, stating that the causes for
this extraordinary meeting still existed. These
causes ivcre briefly explained in his communica*
tion. He had received dispatches from general
Gage and sir William Johnson, that considerable
z Citation existed among the Indians by reason of
encroachments on their lands at Redstone Creek

del:

March 31
1768.

VIRGINIA. 335

and Cheat River by the whites, which, if not CHAP,
timely prevented and punished, might lead to _
another war.

THIS was a case avowedly important, and mea-
sures were instantly adopted for removing so far
as it depended on Virginia, every cause of un-
easiness to this people.

THE attention of the house was attracted to
other objects of far greater importance. The re-
peal of the stamp act had been extorted rather
from the fears than the justice of government,
and it left behind a wound that rankled deep in
their bosoms. The declaratory clause had been
attached to it for the purpose of assuaging the
wounds of authority : But more potent remedies
were sought for in plans of vengeance and ma-
lignity, which only waited an occasion when with
some prospect of success they might be brought
to bear upon America. Whilst these projects
were in agitation, Charles Townshend, chancel-
lor of the exchequer, " in one of his vain and ca-
pricious moods, boasted in the house of com-
mons, that he kne\v how to raise a revenue from
the colonies without giving them any offence."*
lie was instantly andeagerl} urged by Mr. Gren-
ville to pledge himself to the execution of this
project, which, after being sufficiently matured,
was submitted to and gained the approbation of a
majority of the cabinet. The absence of lord
Cnatham accelerated its adoption, and in the en-
suing session of parliament a bill passed for the
imposition of certain duties on glass, tea, paper
and painter's colours. It was presumed that as
the main objec tion had lain against internal tax-
ation, these taxes being indisputably external,

* Bckham.

336 HISTORY OF

CHAP, would experience no opposition. This was irk
= deed taking the colonis.s on their own admissions ;
"" and the vain projectors hugged themselves in the
assurance that they had woven a net so perplexed
and mazy, that it was utterly impossible for
them to extricate themselves by any efforts of in-
genuity. But the sagacity of Americans, grown
every day more quick -sigh ted by discussion and
observation, penetrated in a moment this flimsy
disguise, and their indignation and contempt
every where rose against the weak and wicked
projectors.

IT was of little consequence, they affirmed,
whether a revenue was raised within the colonies
by an act of the British parliament, operating
immediately, or by duties on articles imported,
which went avowedly to the same object. In
either case, a revenue would be raised without,
and contrary to the consent of the people and
their representatives. If carried into a precedent,
these acts would confound all just principles of
legislation, and the colonial assemblies, to every
substantial purpose, would become absolute nul-
lities in the constitution. It was every where
regarded as the entering wedge, whose admis-
sion would prepare the way for greater encroach-
ments, and an unanimous resolution was every
where adopted to oppose it.

To these duties, so justly regarded as obnoxi-
ous and illegal, the assembly of Virginia, with
their usual zeal and sagacity, directed their at-
tention, and they received every facility fr<>m the
mild and patriot virtues of their chief n*agis»
trate. A few days pevious to the opening of their
session, the speaker received the circular letter
of Massachusetts, giving an account of their op-
position to the parliamentary duties, and so
ing the concurrence of Virginia to her pia.ii of

VIRGINIA; 35?

constitutional resistance. A communication like CHAP.
this would naturally confirm the zeal of Virginia,
if incentives had been wanting. Their resolu-
tion, however, was already formed, and the pro-
ceedings of her legislature are thus rapidly but
impressively detailed in their answer through the
medium of their speaker. After paying a just
tribute of applause to the legislature of Massa-
chusetts for their attention to American liberty,
they tell them that, " After the most deliberate
consultation, they thought it their duty to repre-
sent to the parliament of Great Britain, that they
are truly sensible of the happiness and security
they derive from their connections with, and de-
pendence on Great Britain, and are under the
greatest concern that any unlucky incident should
interrupt that salutary harmony, which they wish
ever to subsist. They lament that the lemote-
ness of their situation often exposes them to such
misrepresentations as are apt to involve thtm in
censures of disloyalty to their sovereign, and the
want of a proper respect to the British parlia-
ment ; whereas they have indulged themselves in
the agreeable persuasion, that they ought to be
considered as inferior to none of their fellow sub-
jects in loyalty and affection.

" THAT they do not affect an independency of
their parent kingdom, the prosperity of which
they are bound to the utmost of their abilities to
promote, but cheerfully acquiesce in the autho-
rity of parliament to make laws lor preserving
a necessary dependence, and for regulating the
trade of the colonies. Yet they cannot conceive,
and humbly insist, it is not essential to support
a proper relation between a mother country and
colonies transplanted from her, that she should
have a right to raise money from them without
2T '

338 HISTORY OF

their consent, and presume they do not aspire to
more than the natural rights cf British subjects,
when they assert, that no power on earth has a
right to impose taxes on the people, or take the
smallest portion of their property without their
consent, given by their representatives in '"parlia-
ment. This has ever been considered as the
chief pillar of the constitution ; without this sup.
port no man can be said to have the least shadow
of liberty, since they can have no property in that,
which another can by right take from them when
he pleases, without their consent.

" THAT their ancestors brought over with
them entire, and transmitted to their descend-
ants, the natural and constitutional rights they had
enjoyed in their native country ; and the first
principles of the British constitution were early
engrafted into the constitution of the colonies.
Hence a legislative authority, ever essential in
all free states, was derived, and assimilated as
nearly as might be to that in England ; the exe-
cutive power, and the right of assenting or dis-
senting to all laws reserved to the crown, and the
privilege of choosing their own representatives
continued to the people, and was confirmed to them
by repeated and express stipulations. The go-
vernment thus established, they enjoyed the fruits
of their own labour with a serenity, which liberty
only can impart. Upon pressing occasions they
applied to his majesty for relief, and gratefully
acknowledge they have frequently received it from
their mother country ; whenever their assistance
was necessary, requisitions have constantly been
made from the crown to the representatives of the
people, who have complied with them to the ut-
most extect of their abilities. The ample pro-
vision made for the support of the civil govern-
ment, in the reign of king Charles the second,

VIRGINIA. 339

and at his request, and the large supplies voted CHAP.
during the last war, upon requisitions from his
majesty and his royal grandfather, afford early
and late instances of the dispositions of the as-
semblies of this colony, and are sufficient proofs
that the parliament of Great Britain did not, till
lately, assume a power of imposing taxes on the
people, for the purpose of raising a revenue.

" To say that the commons of Great Britain
have a right to impose internal taxes on the inha-
bitants of this continent, who are not, and can-
not be represented, is in effect to bid them pre-
pare for a state of slavery. What must be their
situation should such a right be established ? The
colonies having no constitutional check on theirli-
berality in giving away their money, cannot have
an opportunity of explaining their grievances, or
.of pointing out the easiest method of taxation,
for their doom will generally be determined be-
fore they are acquainted that the subject has been
agitated in parliament, and the commons bear no
proportion of the taxes they lay upon them. The
notion of a virtual representation, which would
render all our rights merely ideal, has been so
often, and so clearly refuted, that nothing need
be said on that head.

" THE oppressive stamp- act confessedly im-
posed internal taxes, and the late acts ot parlia-
ment, giving and granting certain duties in the
British colonies, plainly tend to the same point.
Duties have been imposed to restrain the com-
merce of one part of the empire that was likely
to prove injurious to another, and by this means
the welfare of the whole promoted ; but duties
imposed on &uch of the British exports as are ne-
cessaries of life, to be paid by the colonists on
importation, without any view to the interests of
commerce, but merely to raise a revenue, or in

340 HISTORY OF

CHAP, other words, to compel the colonists to part with
their money against their inclinations, they con-
ceive to be a tax internal to all intents and pur-
poses. And can it be thought just or reasona-
ble, restricted as they are in their trade, con-
fined as they are in their exports, obliged to pur-
chase their very necessaries at the British mar-
ket, that they should now be told they shall not
have them without paying a duty for them ?

" THE act MI spending the legislative power of
New York, they consider as still more alarming
to the colonies, though it has that single pro-
vince in view. If the parliament can compel
them to furnish a single article to the troops sent
over, they may by the same rule oblige them to
furnish cloaths, arms and every other necessary,
even the pay of the officers and soldiers, a doc-
trine replete with every mischief, and utterly sub-
versive of all that is dear and valuable: For
what advantage can the people of the colonies de-
rive from their right of choosing their own re-
presentatives, if those representatives, when
chosen, not permitted to exercise their own
judgments, were under a necessity (on pain of
being deprived of their legislative authority) of
enlorcing the mandates of a British parliament ?
'' THIS, sir, is a sketch of their sentiments,
as they are expressed in a petition to his majes-
ty, a memorial to the right honourable the lords
spiritual and temporal, and in a remonstrance to
the knights, citizens and burgesses of Great Bri-
tain in parliament assembled. In all those pro-
ceedings the council of the colony have concur-
red, and have directed their agent, James Aber-
crombic, esq. to join Kdward Montague, esq.
their agent for this colony, in applying for redress
of the grievances they so justly complain of. —
Copies Were delivered to the president of the

VIRGINIA.

•council, now commander in chief, who is de-
sired to transmit them to the secretary of state
appointed by his majesty to manage the affairs
of North America, and Mr. Montague is en-
joined to consult the agents of the other colonies,
and to co operate with tliem in every measure
that shall be thought necessary to be taken on
this critical point.

" THEY trust they have expressed themselves
with a firmness that becomes freemen pleading
for essential rights, and with a decency that will
take off every imputation of faction or disloyal-
ty. They repose entire confidence in his majes-
ty, who is ever attentive to the complaints of his
subjects, and is ever ready to relieve their dis-
tress ; and they are not without hopes that the
colonies, united in a decent and regular opposi-
tion, mi.y prevail on a new house of commons
to put a stop to measures so directly repugnant
to the interests both of the mother country and
her colonies."

THE discontent at this time arising from go-
vernmental oppressions, was not' confined to
America: it extended to every quarter of the
empire ; but its focus was the capital, where its
violence sometimes became so great as to en-
danger even the existence cf civil government.

MEANWHILE '^ord Bottetourt arrived, as
governor in chief of the catony of Virginia, and Lord Botte-
by advice of council, a dissolution took place of tourt ar-
the assembly. This was the usual procedure on
the arrival of a new governor, in order that the
representatives of the people should meet their
chief magistrate with minds as little as possible
infected by old prejudices, coming as they did
immediately from the fountain head of autho-
rity.

342

HISTORY OF

CHAP.
IV.

T". —

Assembly.

May 11,

1769.

IN the early part of the following year the
new assembly convened, agreeably to notice,
and were addressed by the governor in a speech
calculated by its affectionate and conciliatory
temper to soothe every irrittation of feeling.
Amongst other tilings, it contained an assurance
that the chief governor, by his majesty's in-
struction, would in future reside within the co~
lony. The reply of the burgesses was respect-
ful and complimentary, but marked by a charac-
ter of caution and reserve. The governor, not-
withstanding the favourable sentiments entertain-
ed of his honour and humanity, had given of-
fence by the gaudy parade and pompous pageant
exhibited during die first day of the session.
He was drawn upon that occasion by eight milk
white horses, in a state coach presented him for
that purpose by the king; and the same formalities
were observed as when the British sovereign
goes in state to open the parliament. A pageant
so opposite to the becoming simplicity of past
times, could not fail to strike a body so enlight-
ened, and it was designed, they imagined by
this unmeaning glitter, to impress with reverence
und abasement the senses of the people.

THE governor having pro posed no specific ob-
jects for their consideration, the house proceed-
ed without delay to a spirited -inquiry into the na-
ture and tendency of the late parliamentary duties,
which they scrupled not to ascribe to a delibe-
rate intention of subverting the ancient rights
and constitution of the colony. In the investi-
gation of this important subject, they were no
longer embarrassed by the sophistry of opposi-
tion, one unanimous sentiment having absorbed
all the shades and distinctions of opinion. In this
spirit the following resolutions were submitted
«

VIRGINIA. 343

•' Resolved, nervine contradicente^ That the CHAP.
^ole right of imposing taxes on the inhabitants of .
this his majesty's colony and dominion of Vir-
ginia is now, and ever has been, legally and con-
stitutionally vested in the house of burgesses,
lawfully convened, according to the ancient and
established practice, with the consent of the
council, and of his majesty the king of Britain,
or his governor for the time being.

t£ Resolved, nemine contradicente, That it is
the undoubted privilege of the inhabitants of this
colony to petition their sovereign for redress of
grievances, and that it is lawful and expedient to
procure the concurrence of his majesty's other
colonies, in dutiful addresses, praying the royal
interposition in favour of the violated rights of
America.

" Resolved, nemine contradicente, That all trials
for treason, misprision of treason, or for any fe-
lony or crime whatsoever, committed or done in
this his majesty's said colony and dominion, by
any person or persons residing therein, ought of
right to be had and conducted in and before his
majestj :s courts held within his said colony, ac-
cording to the fixed and known course of pro-
ceeding ; and that the seizing any person or per-
sons residing in this colony, suspected of any
crime whatesoever committed therein, and send-
ing such person or persons to places beyond the
sea to be tried, is highly derogatory of the rights
of British subjects, as thereby the inestimable
privilege of being tried by a jury from their vi-
cinage, as well as the liberty of summoning and
producing witnesses in such trial, will be taken
away from the party accused.

" Resolved, nemme contradicente, That an
humble, dutiful and loyal address, be presented

I

344 HISTORY OF

CHAP, to his majesty, to assure him of our inviolable at-
tachment to his sacred person and government,
and to beseech his royal interposition, as the fa-
ther of all his people, however remote from the
seat of his empire, to quiet the minds of his loy-
al subjects of this colony, and to avert from them
those dangers and miseries which will ensue from
the seizing and carrying beyond sea any person
residing in America, suspected of any crime
whatsoever, to be tried in any other manner than
by the ancient and long established course of pro-
ceeding."

IT was then " Ordered, that the speaker of
ihis house do transmit, without delay, to the
speakers of the several houses of assembly on
this continent, a copy of the resolutions now
agreed to by this house, requesting their concur-
rence therein."

ON the following day, as if no longer hoping*
for redress, or disdaining to solicit it from the
corruption and arrogance of pailiament, an ad-
dress to the king alone was agreed to, accompa-
nied by an order that the speaker should trans-
mit it to the. agent of the colony, " with direc-
tions to cause the same to be presented to his
most excellent majesty, and afterwards to be
printed and published in the English papers "

BUT the governor had now taken the alarm,
and at 12 o'clock on the following day, having
proceeded to the capital, he sent a message by
his secretary, Mr. Walthoe, to the speaker arid
house of burgesses, to meet him in the council
chamber : The summons being instamly obe} ed.
tie addressed to them the ominous and alarming
sentence.

VIRGINIA, 345

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Bur-
gesses,

" I have heard of your resolves, and augur ill
of their effects. You have made it my duty to
dissolve you, and you are dissolved accordingly."

BUT the time was past when the mere breath
of authority could extinguish the light of justice
ai d reason. With one consent the representa-
tives repaired to a private house in the city, and
having appointed their speaker moderator, a non-
importation agreement was immediately entered
into, which having been unanimously signed by
all the members present, was by order sent for
signatures through the country.*

* Cofiy of the Association.

We, bis majesty's most dutiful subjects, the late repre-
sentative* of all the freeholders of the colony of Virginia,
avowing our inviolable and unshaken fidelity and loyalty to
our most gracious sovereign, our affection for all our fellow
subjects of Great Britain, protesting against every act or
thing which may have the most distant tendency to inter-
rupt or in anywise disturb his majesty's peace and the good
order of hi* government in this colony, which we are re-
solved at the risk of our lives and fortunes to maintain and
defend, but at the same time being deeply affected with the
grievances and distresses with which his majesty's American
subjects are oppressed, and dreading the evils which threat-
en the ruin of ourselves and our posterity, by reducing us
from a free and happy people to a wretched and miserable
state of slavery, and having taken into our most serious
consideration the present state of the trade of this colony
and of the American commerce in general, observe, with
anxiety, that the debt due to Great Britain for goods im-
ported from thence is very great, and that the means of
paying this debt, in the present situation of affairs, are likely
to become more and more precarious ; that the difficulties
under which we now iabaur are owing to the restrictions?
2U

346 HISTORY OF

CHAP. THESE spirited proceedings had the beneficial
IV- effect of confirming the opposition of the other co-
lonies, more especially of Massachusetts, against
which the vindictive policy of administration had

prohibitions, and ill advised regulations, in several late acts
of parliament of Great Britain, in particular that the late
unconstitutional act imposing duties on tea, paper, glass,
Sec. for the sole purpose of raising a revenue in America,
is injurious to property and desiruc ive to liberty, hath a
necessary tendency to prevent the payment of the debt due
from this colony to Great Britain, and is of consequence
ruinous to trade ; that notwithstanding the many earnest ap-
plications already made, there is little reason to expect a
rtdress of those grievances : Therefore, in justice lo our-
selves and our posterity, as well as to the traders of Great
Bri'ain concerned in the American commerce, we, the sub-
scribers, have voluntarily and unanimously entered into
the f Ho wing resolutions, in hopes that our example will
induce the good people of this colony to be frugal in the
use and consumption of British manufactures, and that the
merchants and manufacturers of Great Britain may, from
motives of interest, friendship and justice, be engaged to
exert themselves to obtain for us a redress of those griev-
ances under which the trade and inhabitants of America at
present labour. We do therefore most earnestly recom-
mend this our association to the serious attention of all gen-
tlemen merchants, traders, and other inhabitants of this co-
lony, in hopes that they will vtry readily and cordially ac-
cede thereto.

First, It is unanimously agreed on and resolved, this 18tk
day of May, 1769, that the subscribers, as well by their own
example as all other legal ways and means in their power.
Drill promote and encourage industry and frugality, and dis-
courage all manner of luxury and extravagance.

Secondly, That they will not at any time hereafter, di-
rectly or indirectly, import, or cause to be imported, any
manner of goods, merchandise or manufactures, which are,
or shall hereafter be taxed by act of parliament for the pur-
pose of raising a revenue in America, (except paper not ex-
ceeding tight shillings sterling per ream, and except such
articles only as orders have been already sent for) nor pur-
chase any such after the first day of September next, of
any person whatsoever, but that they will always consider

VIRGINIA. 347

been particularly directed. Virginia and her cou- CHAP.
rage, intelligence and patriotism, became through- _
out America themes of grateful panegyric. Nor ™
were the effects of her gallant resistance confined

such taxation in every respect, as an absolute prohibition,
and in all future orders direct their correspondents to ship
them no goods whatever taxed as aforesaid, except as is
above excepted.

Thirdly, That the subscribers will not hereafter, directly
or indirectly, import, or cause to be imported, from Great
Briuin, or any part of Europe, (except such articles of the
produce or manufacture of Ireland as may be immediately
and legally brought from thence, and except also such goods
as orders have been already sent for) any of the goods
hereinafter enumerated, viz. spirits, wine, cider, perry,
beer, ale, malt, barley, pease, beef, pork, fish, butter,
cheese, tallow, candles, oil, fruit, sugar, pickles, confecti-
onary, pewter, hoes, axes, watches, clocks, tables, chairs,
looking-glasses, carriages, joiners and cabinet work of all
sorts, upholstery of all sorts, tr'u.kets and jewellery, plate
and gold, and silversmiths' work of all sorts, ribband and
millinery of all sorts, lace of all sorts, India goods of all.so"ts,
(except spices) silks of all sorts (except sewing silk) cambric,
lawn, muslin, guaze, (except boif ing cloths) calico or cotton
stuffs of more ihan two shillings per yard, linen of more
than two shillings per yard, woolens, worsted stuffs of all
sorts of more than one shil'ing and sixpence per yaid,
btoadcloths of all kinds at more than eight shillings per
yard, narrow cloths of all kinds at more than three shillings
per yard, hats, stockings, (plaid and Irhh hose excepted),
shoes, and boots, saddles, and all manufactures of leather
and skins of all kinds, until the late acts of parliament im-
posing duties on tea, paper, glass, &r. for the purpose of
raising a revenue in America, are repealed ; and that they
will not, after tne first of September next, purchase any of
the above enumerated good?, of any person whatsoever, un-
less the above mentioned acts of parliament are renewed.

Fourthly, That in all orders which any of the subsnbers
may hereafter send to Great Britain, they shall ;«nd will
expressly direct their correspondents not to ship them any
of the before enumerated goods until the before mentioned
acts of parliaments are repeated; and if any goods are ship-
ped to them, contrary to the tenour of this agreement, they

348 HISTORJ Of

CHAP, to the colonies : It had made a deep impression
on the British government, which began at length
reluctantly to discern that the conduct hitherto
adopted towards America was in the highest de-

will refuse to take ihe same, or make themselves charges-
ble therewith.

Fifthly, That they will not import any slaves, or pur-
chase any imported, after the first day of November next,
until the s ud acts are repealed.

Sixthly, That they will not import any wines of any kind
whatever, or purchase the same from any person whatever,
after the first day of September next, except such wines as
are already ordered, until the acts of parliament imposing
duties thereon of parliament are repealed.

Sc vcnthly, For the better preservation of the breed of
sheep, that they will not kill, or suffer to be killed, any
lambs that shall be yeaned before the first day of May, in
any year, nor dispose of such to any bu'cher, or other per-
son whom they may have reason to suspect intends to kill
the same.

Eightly and lastly, That these resolves shall be binding on
all and each of the subscribers, who do hereby each and every
person for himself, upon his word and honour, agree thut
he will strictly and firmly adhere to and abide by every ar-
ticle in this agreement, from the time of his signing the
same, for and during the contiuanceof the before mention-
ed acts of parliament, or until a general meeting of the sub-
scribers, after one month's public notice shall determine
otherwise, the second article of this agreement still and for
ever continuing in full power and force.

Peyton Randolph, Robert Carter Nicholas, Richard
Bland, Archibald Gary, Richard Henry Lee, Charles Car-
ter, George Washington, Carter Braxton, Severn Eyre,
"Richard Randolph, Patrick Henry, junr. Peter Johnston,
Henry Lee, Nathaniel Terry, Thomas Whiting, Thomas
Jefferson, Thomas Nelson, junr; James Walker, John A-
lexander, Champion Travis, George Ball, Thomas Harri-
scn, Thomas Claiborne, John Blair, junr. Thomson Mason,
Josias Payne, junr. Burvvtll Bassett, Richard Anderson,
James Scott, junr John Green, Wilson Miles Gary, Gabriel
Jones, Willis Riddrck, Thomas Glascock, John Woodson,
Ben. Howard, Isaac Read, Foushee Tebbs, Edward Os-
t>orne> Francis Peyton, Abraham Hire, James Wood,

•VIRGINIA. 34

gree absurd and impracticable. A shock had been C*J£P.
given to the feelings and habits of the colonists,
which had only alarmed their jealousy and sharp,
ened their sagacity and vigilance, when a small
portion of address, it was imagined, might have
aichieved the favourite projects of ministry with-
out noise or suspicion. It was necessary to re-
trace their steps : Cunning must supply the place
of violence and wisdom, the public agitation
composed by insidious assurances, and suspi-
cion lulled into the calm of security.

WITH this view the governors of the several
colonies were instructed to inform the several as-
semblies, that it was at no time the intention of his
majesty's ministers to raise an American revenue,
and that the duties complained of would be cer-
tainly repealed. The governor of Virginia had
by his honest and sensible representations to the
ministry, eminently contributed to bring about
this change. Humane, disinterested and honoura-
ble, he had declared his intention of resigning
his government, unless compltte justice was done
to their loyalty and patriotism, which he avowed to
be equal to those of any subjects in the empire. On

Richard Baker, Edwin Gray, Robert Munford, Henry Tay-
lor, Joseph Cabell, Alex. Trent, John Mayo, David Ma-
son, Wm. Macon, junr Hugh lones, Boiling Stark, Robert
Boiling, Paul Carrington, Thos Walker, Wm. Cabell, jun.
Nathaniel Edwards, junr. Bobtrt Rutherford, Thos. Barber,
Charles Lynch, Jaaies Hamilton, John Wiison, Wm. Clay-
ton, Robert Munford, Mecklenburg, Thomas Bailey, Thos.
Scott, Lewis Burwell, John Harmanson, Thomas Parra-
tnore, John Do islson, Cornelius Thomas, Thomas John-
son, John Lewis, junr. Wm Rone, Wm. Acrrill, Hartwell
Coke, John Taibot, Richard Lee, Joseph Hutchings, P2d-
ward Hack Mosely, junr. John Ackiss, James Bridger, Da-
vid Mead, Southy Simpson, Peter Poythress, Philip Lud
well Grymss ; Richard Siarke, clerk to the association.

350 HISTORY OF

CHAP, the strength of those assurances, received from
. . the secretary for American affairs, the assembly
Assembly, was convened.*

* Gentlemen of the Council, Mr. S/icaker, and Gentlemen of
the House of Burgesses.

I think myself peculiarly fortunate to be able to inform
you, that in a letter dited May the 13th, I have been as-
sured by the earl of Hdlsbirough, that his majesty's pre-
sent administration have at no time entertained a design to
propose to parliament Co lay any further taxes upon Ame-
rica for the purpose of raising a revenue, and that it is their
mtention to propose in the next session of parliament, to
take off the duties upon glass, paper and colours, upon con-
sideration of such duties having been laid contrary to the
true principl-s of commerce.

It may possibly be objected, that as his majesty's present
administration are not im Tiortal, their successors may be
inclined to attempt to undo *vhat the present ministers shall
have i* empted to perform ; and to that objection I can give
but this answer, that it is my firm opinion that the plan I
have stated to you will certainly take place, and that it will
never r>e departed from, and so determined am I for ever to
abide by it, that I will be content to be declared infamous if
I do not to the last hour of my life, at all times, in all
places, and up in all occasiois, exert every power with which
I either am or shall be legally invested, in order to obtain
and maintain for the continent of America that satisfaction
which I iiave been authorised to promise this day, by the
confidential servants of our gracious sovereign, who, to my
certain knowledge, rates his honour so high, that he wou.ld
rather part with his crown than preserve it by deceit.

To his excellency the right honourable Norbonne baron de
Boietourt, his majesty's lieutenant and governor general
of the colony and dominion of Virginia, and vice-admiral
of the same.

The humble Address of the Council.
My Lord,

We, his nnjes*tv's dutiful subjects, the council of Virgi-
nia, now met in general assembly, return your excellency

VIRGINIA. 351

THE effect of these assurances was instanta- CHAP,
neous : Every eye glistened with pleasure, and IV< ,.
in the midst of their gratitude to heaven for
their promised deliverance from bondage, they
did not forget the benevolent spirit, whose coun-

our sincerest thanks for your kind speech at the opening of
this session, and for the opportunity you have afforded us of
dispatching the public business of this dominion. Your ex-
cellency may be assured that the several matters you have
so earnestly recommended to the legislature at this time,
will be attenckd to, and cor sidered by the council with all the
temper and moderation which the importance of them re-
quires ; and that we shall give a cheerful and ready compli-
ance with all such measures as may best promote the ho-
nour of the crown, and the happiness of his majesty's sub-
jects in Virginia. The information your excellency has been
pleased to give us of the intention of his majesty's ministers,
to propose in the next session of parliament to take off the
duty upon paper, glass and colours, is extremely agreeable
to us ; as a repeal of the revenue act will be the most effec-
tual method to heal the differences that have unhappily sub-
sisted between Great Britain and her colonies, and to restore
that harmony and mutual confidence which are so necessary
for the welfare and prosperity of both. We acknowledge,
with particular satisfaction, that our most sanguine expec-
tations, upon your excellency's arrival in the colony, have
been fully answered, by the experience we have already had
of your prudent, wise and equitable administration; and we
look upon it as a sure presage of happiness to this country.

To which his excellency was pleased to return the follow-
ing answer.

Gentlemen of the Council,

I accept with the utmost thankfulness your very affection-
ate address, and am proud to acknowledge that I stand in-
debted to your able and friendly counsel for that degree of
credit with which I have been honoured by this respectable
dominion.

352 HISTORY OF

CHAP, sels had softened the hearts and convinced the
_ judgment of their oppressors. The venerable
" image of Botetouit was enshrined in every breast ;
every tongue was wanton in his praise. Nor was

To his excellency the right houourable Norborne haron de
Botetourt, his majesty's lieutenant and governor general
of the colony and dominion of Virginia, and vice-admi-
ral of the same.

The humble Address of the House of Burgesses*
My Lord)

We, his majesty's most dutiful and loyal subjects, the
burgesses of Virginia, now met in general assembly, brg
leave to return your excellency our sincere and unfeigned
thanks for your very kind and affectionate speech at the
opening of this session.

It gives us great pleasure, that we have again the ho-
nour ef meeting your lordship in general assembly, as it
affords us an opportunity of renewing to your excellency
the strongest assurances of our uninterrupted and most in-
violable attachment to the sacred person and government of
our royal sovereign, and, at the same time, of discharging
the important duties we owe to our constituents.

We should think ourselves extremely dtficient in dtry
and affection to the best of kings, were we not deeply im-
pressed with the warmest sentiments of gra ;ituile by his ma-
jesty's moat gracious purpose of recommending to his par-
liament a 'repeal of the act imposing duties upon glass, pa-
per and colours ; especially, as we cannot doubt bu^ that
the same wisdom and goodness, which have already induced
his majesty favourably to regard the humble entreaties of
his faithlul subjects in America, will still farther incline the
royal breast to an exertion of his majesty's graci- us and
benign influence, towards perfecting the happiness of all
his people.

It adds greatly, my lord, to our satisfaction and com-
fort, to learn from your excellency that hiu majesty's pre°
sent administration have at no time entertained a design to
propose to parliament the laying any farther taxes upon,
America, for the purpose of raising a revenue ; and *ve
will not suffer our present hopes, arising from the pleasing

VIRGINIA. 358

ft only by his conduct that he had endeared him- CHAF.
self to Virginia: His private virtues, displayed
continually without effort or ostentation, en-
shrined him in the hearts of all men.

AN address to the governor was agreed to,
praying that he would use his best offices to pro-
cure for the colony a circulation of copper money ;
they at the same time expressed their wishes fora
more extended western boundary, but declared
their willingness to acquiesce, provided that
could not be obtained, in the boundary proposed
by their sovereign.* At length, by desire of

prospect your lordship hath so kindly opened and displayed
to us, to be clashed by the bitter reflection that any future
administration will entertain a wish to drpart from that plan,
which affords the surest and most permanent foundation of
public tranquility and happiness : No, my lord, we arc sure
our most gracious sovereign, under wha'ever changes may
happen in his cci.fidential servants, uill regain immutable
in the ways of truth and justice, and that lie is incapable of
deceiving: his faithful subjects ; and we esteem your lord-
ship's information not only as warranted, but even sanctified
by the royal word.

To which his exellency was pleased to return the following
answer.

Mr. Speaker and Gentlemen vf the House of Burgesset^

Your kind and affectionate address brightens my pros-
pect, and fills me with the delightful expectation of com-
pletely answering the purposes of my royal master. May
the Almighty secure to me that mosi desirable object, by di»
recting your counsels for the advantage and prosperity of
all his majesty's extensive dominions, and may you continue
a loyal, free and happy people, till time shall be no more.

* Your memorialists beg leave to observe that the said line?
if extended from the intersection of Holston's river, the
2 W

354

HISTORY OF

CHAP, the governor, they adjourned themselves for the
purpose of affording leisure tor the session of the
general court.

WHILST these things were passing in Virgi-
nia, events of a bolder character had rapidly sue-

in

setts.
1769,

point which would terminate the line dividing this colony
from North Carolina, to the mouth of the Great Kanhaway9
would be ntar two hundred miles in length, and must pass
through a country abounding with high and ragged moun-
tains extremely d-fncult and dangerous of access, and inter-
sected by many wattr courses; that the present posture of
Indian affairs would muke a strong guard of armed men ne*
cessary for the prottction of those who might be commis-
sioned to run such a line, as it must necessarily pass thro*
a country uninhabited, and through which those Indians
who seem at present most inclined to hostilities, do fre-
quently take their routes.

That by establishing such line, a great part of that most
valuable country, lying on the Ohio, below the mouth of
the Grtut Kanhavay, lately ceded to his majesty by the
northern Indians, would be separated and divided from the
British territory, on the upper part of Holston's river, the
Great Kanbuway and the Ohio, which your memorialists
humbly conceive must greatly impede, and may totally pre*
vent the settlement of that fertile and extensive country*
which, from its situation end many natural advantages
would open the fairest prospect of a very beneficial com-
merce to cur mother country, by securing to his majesty's
subjects a new and extensive trade with the several tribes of
western Indians, which has hitherto been almost engrossed
by the subjects of France; and by this means many Indi-
an nations heretofore living at enmity with our most gra-
cious sovereign and his subject*, might be made fr endly
and useful in extending the trade and navigation with Great
Britain.

That your memorialists have the greatest reason to fear
that the said line, if confirmed} would constantly open to
the Indians ind oihers, enemies to his majesty, a free and
cas> ir.prrss to the heart of the country, en the Ohio, Hoi.
stM-'s river, and the Great Kanhaway, \vhcreby the settle,
n.ent* which may be attempted in those quarters will in all
pu liability be utterly destroyed, and that great extent
oi country, from the mouth of the Kanhaway to the

VIRGINIA. 3S

needed each other in the province of Massachu- CHAP,
setts. After the circular letter to the other colo- IV-
nies, which has been already alluded to, gover-
nor Bernard laid before the house of representa-
tives an extract of a letter from the earl of Hills-
borough, declaring his majesty's concern, " that
a house, at the end of a session, should have

mouth of the CheroVee river, extending eastward as far
as the Lawrell Hills, so very lately ceded to hi* majesty,
and to which no tribe of Indians at present sets up any pre-
tensions, will be entirely abandoned to the Cherokees; in
consequence of which claims totally destructive ot the true
interests of his majesty may at some future time arise, and
acquisitions justly ranked amongst the most valuable of the
late war, be altogether lost.

Your memorialists further beg leare to represent to your
lordship, that lands which have been granted by patents re-
gularly obtained, according to the known and fixed rules of
this government, if the said line were to take piaac, would
be entirely dismembered from this colony, allotted to the
Indians, and entirely lost to the proprietors, who were au-
thorised by law, and encouraged by the royal instruction of
his lar.e majesty to his governor, to explore and settle this
new country at the risk of their Hres, and at a great ex-
pense.

Your memorialists, from these weighty considerations,
have been induced to extend their views, and do humbly of-
fer, as their opinion, that a lint beginning at tlie western
termination of tht North Carolina line, and running thence
in a due west direction to the river Ohio, may be accom-
plished at a much lets expense than the other line proposed ;
that the extension of such a line is necessary for the safety
aria advantage of his majesty** subjects, and that it would
lend greatly to the increase of his majesty'* revenue, and to
the promotion of the trade and navigation of the western
part of this dominion, if a purchase were made of the Che-
rokee Indians of all their lands, which such due western
line vould include; especially if his majesty would be gra-
ciously pleased in his royal wisdom to discourage all mono-
polies of those lands, and strengthen our barrier by grant-
ing them in small or moderate quantities, to such adven-
turers as might incline to seat and settle the same.

355 HISTORY OF

CHAP, presumed to revert to, and resolve upon, a mea~
sure ot so inflammatory a nature as that of writ-
ing to the other colonies on the subject of their
intended representations against some late acts
ot parliament, and signifying his majesty's plea-
sure, that the governor should require of the
house of representatives, in his majesty's name,
to rescind the resolution which gave birth to the
circular letter from the speaker, and to declare
their disapprobotion of and dissent from that
rash and hasty proceeding.?' The house having
for some time endeavoured to evade this requisi-
tion, at lengih agreed to a reply to the letter of
Hillsborough, by a majority of ninety- three to
thirteen, in which they defended with masculine
energy their circular, and by bold insinuation
ascribe the resentment of their sovereign to the
base misre presentations and perfidious counsels of
that desperate faction which had invariably sought
to embroil the tranquility of society. The ques-
tion for rescinding being then taken, it was de-
cided in the negative by a majority of ninety. two
to seventeen. The immediate consequence of
these measures was as usual a dissolution of the
assembly, a procedure in the present agitation of
the public sentiment utterly inefficient.

AN event meanwhile occurred which evinced
the popular irritation more strongly than lan-
guge. The sloop Liberty, belonging to John
Hancock, having been seized by the collector
and comptroller of the customs, the populace
assembled in great numbers, beat the officers and
their assistants, took possession of the collec-^
tor's boat, which they burnt in triumph, and
patrolled the streets. The revenue officers,
alarmed for their safety, fled first on board the
Rpmhey man of war, and afterwards to Castle
William. The governor in vain moved the council

VIRGINIA. 357

to devise some means for restoring its former vi-
gour and firmness to government. That virtuous
body replied ,. that " the disorders which happened
were occasioned by the violent and unprecedent-
ed manner in which the sloop Liberty had been
seized by the officers of the customs." The in-
habitants of Boston, on the strength of several
affidavits, affirmed that the haughty conduct of
the commissions and their creatures, had been
the sole cause of the late tumults. The popular ir-
ritation was still farther inflamed by the captain of
the Romney man of war, who, having modred
in close with the town, committed several out-
rages evincive of a determined hostility. A pe-
tition was presented to the governor for the re-
inovil of the Romney, and the streets were again
patrolled by large bodies of people, breathing
vengeance against the authors of the late arbi-
trary and unprecedented proceedings. A com-
mittee of both houses, however, thought proper
to disapprove of the popular excesses, and for
the sake of form, it was imagined, directed suits
to be instituted against the authors and abettors
of the late riots. It was signified, meanwhile,
that a body of troops might be expected in Bos-
ton, and the popular suspicion being every mi-
nute excited by new arid unusual appearances al-
ternately of menace and reserve on the part of the
government, the committee of Boston resolved,
" that to levy money within that province by any
other authority than that of the general court,
was a violation of the royal charter, and of the
undoubted natural right of British subjects.

" THAT the freeholders and other inhabitants
of the town of Boston would, at the peril of
their lives and fortunes, take all legal and consti-
tutional measures to defend all and singular the

35$ HISTORY OF

CHAP, rights, liberties, privileges, and immunities?
1 v* granted in their royal charter.

" THAT, as there was an apprehension in the
minds of many of an approaching war with
France, those inhabitants who were not provided
with arms, should be requested duly to observe
the laws of the province, which required that
every householder should furnish himself with a
complete stand."

" THEY further resolved, " that as the gover-
nor did not think proper to call a general court
for the redress of their grievances, the town
would then make choice of a suitable number of
persons to act for them as a committee in a con-
vention, to be held at Fanueil hall in Boston, with
such as might be sent to join them from the se-
veral towns in the province."

THE advice of the committee had all the effects
of law, and the conventional deputies assembled
at Faneuil Hall clothed with authority superior
to all the trappings of kings ; the love, the re-
spect, the gratitude of a virtuous people. After
disclaiming all other title save that of mere indi-
viduals, they petitioned the governor to assemble
the general court, and having instructed their agent
of their real character and the motives which in-
duced their assemblage, they rose after recom-
mend ing patience and moderation to the people.
THEIR session had scarcely closed when two
regiments, commanded by colonel Ddrymple,
marched into Boston with bayonets fixed and mi-
litary music, and the select men having^ refused
to furnish them with quarters, the state- house
was by order of die governor prepared for their
reception, and two pieces of cannon were post-
ed in its front with the obvious and professed
view of awing the townsmen. This insulting
pageant was calculated to inflame the already ir*

VIRGINIA. 35

ritated feelings of the people, and it was with the c^p<
utmost difficulty that they were restrained by the
magistrates from rushing on the guard, and pre-
cipitating every thing into confusion and hostili-
ty. The measure of suffering and insult was not
yet full, and it was conceived more politic that
the resistance of the people should be still far-
ther justified by the last acts of military violence.
This justification was not long wanting. Seve-
ral affrays having taken place, arising wholly from
the insolence of the soldiery and indignation of
the people, at length captain Preston issued out
from the state- house with the principal part of
the main guard, and the scuffle having become
more general and alarming, he ordered his men
to fire, by which four of the townsmen were
killed.

THE alarm bells immediately rung; the
drums beat to arms, and an immense multitude
rushing together from all quarters, were restrain-
ed only by the extraordinary address and persua-
sions of the lieutenant governor and other influ-
ential characters from attacking the 29th regiment
drawn up in order of battle in King street. They
were at length prevailed on to disperse on the so-
lemn assurance, that the laws should be enforced
on the murderers, and after the 29th regiment
had been marched to their barracks. But on
the following day, as if not satisfied with these
assurances, it was unanimously resolved, in an
address by the people to the lieutenant governor,
'* that the inhabitants and soldiers can no longer
live together in safety ; that nothing can ration-
ally be expected to restore the peace of the town
and prevent farther blood and carnage, but the
immediate removal of the troops ; and they there-
fore most fervently pray his honour that his pow-

360

HISTORY OF

1770.

Virginia
assembly,

er and influence might be exerted for their in*
slant removal,"

THE answer of the lieutenant governor, altho'
i't declared his abhorrence of the late outrage ;
although it promised the immediate removal of
the -29th regiment, and that the 14th regiment
should be so disposed of and laid under such re-
strictions, that all occasions of future disturb-
ance should be removed," was resolved to be
unsatisfactory, and the former vote having been
submitted to the council by Mr. Hutchinson,
the successor of the late governor, they were
unanimously of opinion, " that it was absolutely
necessary for his majesty's service, and the good
order of the town, and the peace of the province,
that the troops should be immediately removed
out of the town oi Boston."

THIS opinon having been made known to coL
Dalrymple, he pledged his honour that prepara-
tions should immediately commence for their re-
moval, and tranquility was restored. Captain
Preston was soon after brought to trial and ac-
quitted.

MEANWHILE the representatives of the people
had, daring their adjournment reflected more
maturely on the late assurances of Hillbborough,
communicated by the governor, and although
they felt no abatement ot their gratitude and at-
tachment to this excellent man, they began to en-
tertain serious doubts of the sincerity of the mi-
nister. Under these impressions a protest was
solemnly entered on their journals, expressive
of their conviction that partial remedies were in-
competent to heal the present disorders.* The

* They voted as a protest manifesting their dissatisfac-
f iou wiih it, a petition to the king, asserting the rights they

VIRGINIA, 361

humane Botetourt, who was himself imposed on CHAP,
by the insidious artifices of ministers, was hurt _
at what he regarded a suspicion and impeach. "
ment of his honour and veracity. But his exer-
tions were notwithstanding unabated, to realize
to the colonists the promised blessings. The as-
sembly was prorogued to the llth of November
in the following year.

THIS year died Norborne lord Botetourt, go-
vernor of Virginia, a man possessed of every Death and
public and private virtue which can adorn hu-
man nature. Employed by a corrupt minister on tourt
account of his splendid rank and engaging ad-
dress, to awe, intimidate or seduce t* e integrity
and patriotism of Virginia, he made his public
entry as has been already noticed, with the pomp
and splendour of majesty itself. He was told
that the people of his government were disposed
to mutiny and rebellion ; that they were licenti-
ous and immoral, and spurntd at the just autho-
rity of the parent state. As the difficulties he
must encounter were ob/iously great, it was re-
presented that great wrould be the glory of re-
claiming them to order and government. He
came ; he looked around him ; he judged for him-
self. Instead of mutiny, immorality and trea-
son, he saw a people, devoted indeed to liberty,
and ready to seal their attachment with their

had heretofore maintained ; and as individuals, immedi-
ately signed an association, in which they were joined
by several respectable merchants of the country then met
at Williamsburg, by which they renewed their non-impor-
tation agreement, with respect to certain enumerated ai ti-
des, not of absolu'.e necessity, and engaged to continue it
uatil the duty on tea should be repealed.

Life of Wa»hingtQr^ jia/4 139,

2X

62 HISTORY OF

CHAP, blood; but at the sane time loyal, just, hnman08
disposed to affection, and won even b} trifiii g
kindress. The ieMilt of tl ese observations was
in various shapes transmitted to his government^
and various artifices were used by fallacious hopes
and studied delays, to impose at once on the go-
Vf-rnor and people of Virginia. Disgusted at
length with these hollow assurances, he indig-
nantly demanded his recal, and the sense of his
own violated honour added to his sorrow7 for the
condition of the colony, preyii;g on a delicate
constitution and a keen sensibility, he was taken
off by an acute disease after a few days illness,
regretted by all as their friend, their benefactor,
their father.*

* In 1768 lord Botetourt began his administration, as go-
vernor in chit f; the first governor, I think, since lord Cul-
peper, uho condescended to come to this colony : And he
ca«Tie with a sincere hope that he could heal the wounds
which Virginia and the other colonies had received. He did
his utmost to remove from the minds of the ministry theif
suspicion, that Virginia was disposed to throw off fhe go-
vernment of Britain, affirming as he did, in letters which
he gave open to Peyton Randolph and R. C. Nicholas, and
which they read and then sealed with his seal, and sent to
lord Hilh borough. I think that the king of Great Britain
h;»d not more loyal subjects in the whole extent of his do-
minions tjian the people of Virginia. And as soon as the
oppressive nature of the several taxes laid by the British
parliament on the colonies, wns pointed out to him by those
pat'iotic gentlemen, he never ceased to mge on the mini-
stry the propriety of heir repeal; and cnce had actually
obtained such a promise as he thought he could rely on,
and with the highest satisfaction ann unced it to the gene-
ral assembly. But fit diritr himself deceived by a perfidious
jrovi inn e» t, he boldlv demanded his recal, and declared
tha^ he would not be their ti.ol, or attempt to oppress an in-
iH'ceni ai.d virtuous people. He survived this manly exer-
cise uf .i.i* ut'gimnt, u.fWnctd n> sentiments of honour
and bounu poiuicul justice, but a few months, as he died in

VIRGINIA. 363

BY the death of the governor in chief, the go- CHAP,
vernment devolved on William Nelson, pre6i-
dent of council, and the assembly having been
previously prorogued, in order to afford time

the fall after, of a billions fever, which I thought was great-
ly aggravated by his chagrin and disappointment. He was
a generous patron of 'he arts and scimces, giving out of
his private purse valuable silver and gokl medals as prizes
to the students at college, and paid an incredible atten'i'-n
to the p ofessors and students at William and Mary col-
lege. For these reasons, most deservedly the general as-
sembly erected his statue, as a monument to his memory, in
the area of their capitol, although the inscriptions express
imperfectly what the members knew and felt.

He was easy of access, even to the poorest, whether
they called on him thr ugh mere curiosity, as many did,
or on business; in either case, such w ;s his happy temper
aid disposition, that all left him satisfied. He expedited
business in the supreme courts by his early and constant at-
tendance ; meeting the councillors on the bench nearly
two hours sooner than they had ever been accustouied to
meet, and detaining them t' ere an l<our or two longer than
any other governor had done. And 'he business of the
county court he expedited by leaviny OIK ot the rnnm.is-
sion of justices the names of those who neglected to attend
without sufficient cause.

Botetourt began his administration with great parade ;
he met the assembly io a btate coach which had bttn pre-
sented to him by the king, and in imitation of his sovereign
this equipage was drawn by six white hordes, which slowly
drew him fro-n the palace to the capitol. As well as I
can recollect, his lordship laid aside this pompous ceremo-
ny when he found it produced none of the desired effects.
There can be no doubt that he had been instructed to im-
press us generally with ideas of royal splendour and its at-
tendant power, and to diffuse by this means into minds sus-
cesptible of it, a hopcr of being elevated to stations where
some portion of this splendour mij;ht be enjoved. In
short, it cannot be doubted (notwithstanding his Ivnest de-
claration to the British minister) that he would have coaxed
us or bullied us into a submission to the will of his royal
master if he could, when he first came amongst us. But

364 HISTORY OF

CHAP, for a more mature reflection on the affairs of the
iv- colony, assembled at length on the 18th of July,
" and proceeded without delay to the dispatch of
business Notwithstanding the great events which
agitated Virginia in common with all America,
the virtues ot the late g< y , rnor were not forgot-
ten, and the regrets of the house of burgesses
displayed themselves in a manner equally wor-
thy of the deceased and the long established cha-
racter of the colony.*

BUT in the midst of this generous sympathy
for departed greatness, their attention was at-
tracted to other objects. A project was in agi-
tation amongst a few fanatics, at the head of
whom was professor Camm, to introduce an
American episcopate, with the professesed view

he had too much feeling not to feel for us when he saw our
oppression ; too much of a manly spirit to wish to have that
crushed, which as a brave Englishman, he must have
thought was glorious in the descendants of their loyal fel-
low subject of Britain, and he had too high a sense of honour
not to desist from the base attempt which he saw was made
to deceive, oppress and enslave a virtuous people, and no
small portion of his fellow subjects.

* "Resolved, nemine cantradicente, That an elegant Statue
of his late excellency, the right honourable Norborne ba°
ron de Botetoun, be erected in marble at the public ex-
pense, with proper inscriptions, expressing the grateful
sense this house entertains of his lordship's prudent and
wise administration, and their great solicitude to perpetuate,
as far as they are able, the remembrance of those many
public and social virtues which adorned his illustrious cha-
racter. That the same he sent for to Great Britain, under
the direction of the honourable William Nelson, Thomas
Nelson, and Peyton Randolph, esquires, Robert Carter
Nicholas, Lewis Burwell, and Dudley Diggs, esquires.

Resolved, that the treasurer pay for the statue to be
erected to the memory of lord Botetourt out of the public
money in the treasury.

VIRGINIA. 365

of having religious discipline on the model of the
English church, but with the real design of at-
taining personal aggrandizement, and procuring
the co-operation of church and state for the fur-
therance of religious and political oppression.*
The effects of this project had not escaped the
penetration of the people, and it had been com-
bated by several clergymenf and laymen by so-
lid argument and successful ridicule. It became
the duty of the representatives of the people to

* Speaking of Dr. Seeker, he says, « A prelate of a life
rigidly virtuous, completely versed in all the branches of
ecclesiastical learning, but of a capacity by no means ele-
vated, and whose zeal was at least as conspicuous as his can-
dour and ju.lg nent. H'S ardent desire to establish episcopa-
cy in America is well known ; and if no fears and jealousies
had been entertained that the new bishops would have been
invested With some sort or degree of temporal jurisdiction,
the plan would not have been opposed by the Americans,
who declared, that they objected not to the introduction of
bishops, b-.it they were determined not to admit of lord hi-
*hofist Bi -hops on the primitive model, unconnected with
the state, have- been since the revolution introduced into the
different provinces, even of New England itself, without ex-
citing the slightest alarm or apprehension. In the charac-
ter of Seeker, though in many respects excellent, we may
look in vain f >r the benignity, the liberality, the generous
and enlarged views of his predecessor, archbishop Herring."

Belsham.

t Resolved, nemine contradicente, That the thanks of this
house be given to the rev. Mr. Henley, the rev. Mr. Gwat-
kia, the rev. Mr. Hewitt, and the rev. Mr. Bland, for the
wise and well timed opposition they have made to the per-
nicious project of a few mistaken clergymen, for intro-
ducing an American bishop; a measure by which much
disturb ince, great anxiety and apprehension would certainly
take place among his majesty's faithful American subjects;
an 1 that Mr. Richard Henry Leeajid Mr. Bland do acquaint
them therewith.

366 HISTORY OF

CHAP, speak their opinion of a measure so fraught with
. jv • : michiffand extravagance; and in doing this they
* did not forget the exertions of those enlightened
ministers, who had protested against it.*

* The Protest against the firoceecRnsfS of the convention hold-
en at \\~iLliamand, Mxry C3ll?get on the 4>'h day of June, 1771.

Whereas the following resolution was agreed to 'by a ma-
jority of the clergy assembled at the said convention, « That
a committee be appointed to draw up an address to the king
f)r an American episcopate, and the committee shall apply
for the hands of the majority of the clergy of this colony, in
which, if they succeed, the bishop of London is to be humbly
addressed for his concurrence, and requested to present their
addrosb to his majesty, but without a concurrence of a ma>-
joriiy of the clergy the address not to be transmitted ; and
that t'le reverend Messrs. Camm* Wylie, Sky ring and Fon-
taine, or any three of them, are appointed d com nittee to
prepare the said addresses."

We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, and who did
vote against the said resolution, do publicity declare our
dissent, and protest against it.

First, Because as the number of the clergy in this colony
is at least a hundred, we cannot conceive that twelve cler-
gymen are a sufficient representation of so large a body.

Secondly, Because the said resolution contradicts a for-
mer resolution of the said convention, which puts a nega-
tive upo.i the question, « Whether the king should be ad-
dressed upon an American episcopate ?" an:l that an assem-
bly met up 3n so important an occasion, should rescind are-
solution agreed to an 1 entered down but a few minutes be-
fore, is, in our apprehension, contrary to all order and de-
corum.

Thirdly, Because the expression, an American efiiscoftate,
includes a jurisdiction over the other colonies, and the cler-
gy of Virginia cannot with any propriety petition for a
measure which, for aught that appears to the contrary, will
materially nff-ct the natural rights and fundamental laws of
the said colonies, without their consent and approbation.

Fourthly, Because the establishment of an American
episcopate, at this time, would tend greatly to weaken the
connexion between the mother country and her colonies ; to
continue their present unhappy disputes, to infuse jealousies

VIRGINIA. 367

A CONSIDERABLE sum* was voted for the re- CHAP.
Ijef of great numbers of people at Richmond

and fears into the minds of Protestant dissenters, and to
give ill disposed persons occasion to raise such disturbances
as may endanger the very existence of the British empire in
America.

Fifthly, Because we cannot help considering it as ex-
tremely indecent for the clergy to make such an application
without the concurrence of the president, council and repre-
sentatives of this province ; an usurpation directly repug-
nant to the rights of mankind.

Sixthly, Because the bishops of London have always hi-
therto exercised ecclesiastical jurisdiction over this colony;
and we are perfectly satisfied with the mild, just, and equi-
table government of our excellent diocesan, the present lord
bishop of London, and do think a petition to the crown to
strip his lordship of any part of his jurisdiction but an ill
return for his past labours, and contrary to our oath of ca-
nonical obedience. We do farther conceive, us it had been
unanimously determined by this very convention, that his
lordship should be addressed for his opinion relative to this
meaMire, the clergy ought to have wailed for his lordship's
paternal advice before they proceeded any farther in an affair
of such vast importance.

Seventhly, Because we have particular objections to that
part of the resolution by which the committee are directed
to afifily, as it is termed, for the hands of the majority of the
clergy in this colony ; a method of proceeding, in our opi-
nion, contrary to the universal practice of the Christian
church, it having been customary for the clergy to sign acts
of an ecclesiastical nature in public convention, whereas
the manner of procuring their concurrence now proposed
is unworthy the decorum and dignity by which so venerable
a body ought ever to be guided.

SAMUEL HENLEY, professor of moral philosophy

in William and Mary college.

TiiOMAS GYVATKIN, professor of mathematicks,
and natural philosophy, in Wm.and Mary college.

We hear that there is another protest, signed by the rev.
Richard Hewitt, rector of Hungai's parish, in Nor hamp-
ton, and the rev. Willia n Bland, rtcior of James Ciiy pa-
rish, in James City county.

* 30,000/.

368 .

HISTORY OF

Lord Dun-
more.

and elsewhere, whose tobacco had been damaged
in the public ware houses, by an inundation
caused by the overflowing of James river.

LORD DUN MO RE was removed from the ejo-
vernment of New York to that of Virginia.
From his conduct subsequent to this appoint-
ment, it would seem that this removal was not
entirely agreeable to him, Instead of hastening
to his new government, which longed to behold
a man of whom fame had spoken in flattering
terms, he lingered for several months amidst the
pleasures and amusements of that gay and
wealthy city, and prepared the minds of the Vir-
ginians for that jealousy and dislike, which after-
wards were changed into the extremest disgust
and abhorrence.

HE arrived in 1772, having previously sent on
his lady and family under the care of his private se-
cretary, captain Foy. Foy had distinguished him-
self at the battle of Minden, and was one of the
three -captains, whom prince Ferdinand had prais-
ed for their gallantry on that day. In the present
agitation of the public mind, when incidents
otherwise trifling and apparently uninteresting,
would become from their connection with govern-
ment important, it was regarded as matter of
speculation, that an officer of reputation, bhould
abandon his government of New Hampshire, to
which he had been appointed, for the obscuie si-
tuation of clerk in Virginia ; and there were not
wanting many, who asserted, that the military ta-
lents of Foy were to be employed in carrying in-
to effect those measures of coercion devised by
the British parliament. Other circumstances
served tD strengthen those suspicions. To ren-
der the situation of Foy more comfortable, new

VIRGINIA:

fees* were created, unknown to the constitution
of the colony, and a salary of 5001. per annum
created without the cognizance of the assembly,
and directly contrary to established laws and
usages. The opinions of the favourite too, on
the subject of colonial claims, were highly offen-
sive ; opinions which, notwithstanding his sup-
posed station of private adviser to his lordship,
and the obvious impolicy of the procedure, he
used no pains to conceal.

SUCH was the situation of affairs when the ga-
vernor thought proper to summon an assembly.
The first proceedings of this body, after the
customary formalities, evince their determined
dislike and opposition. An attack was made on
the governor, in the person of his secretary, and
a list of the fees created for the benefit of clerks,
demanded in words strong and explicit. In can-
vassing these measures, little ceremony was used;
the conduct of the governor was pronounced il-
legal, and a committee was immediately appoint-
ed to lay before him the sense of the house,

» List of fees.

For county lieutenannt's commission,
Colonels, -
Lieutenant colonels,
Majors, • •

Sheriffs, - - - -
Principal inspectors,
Assistant inspectors,
Coroners, •
Mediterranean pass,
Quarter masters, - -
Presentation to a parish,
Escheat master, -
Commissary of stores,
2Y

L. s. d.
200
1 6

1 6

1 «

5 0

15 0

10 O

10 0

15 0

00 0

10 0

1 6

1 6

•A

370 STORY

which on this occasion was almost unanimous^
The governor's answer was mild and conciliate-
ne fecs complained of, he understood to
have been established by his predecessors, and
ought, he said, to be ascribed to his short resi-
dence in the country, which had not yet enabled
him to acquire that knowledge of the laws and
constitution so necessary fora just and able ad-
ministration. He concluded by declaring, that
the fees should be withdrawn.

BUT the haughty spirit of Dunmore struggled
hard with his ideas of policy on this occasion,
At any other time he would have set the legisla-
ture at defiance, and taken shelter under the un-
dt finable shield of executive privilege : But it was
judged prudent to preserve his small stock of po-
pularity for trials of greater importance. The fees
of his secretary were rightly regarded as of mi-
nor concern compared with the great question of
colonial rights, which would in a short time be
conttsted.

WON by this condescension and seeming mo-
deration, the assembly expressed their gratitude
in the warmest and most affectionate terms, and
were prorogued to the 10th of June following.
This was certainly an auspicious omen of future
moderation and harmony ; but the popular jea-
Icusy was not to be lulled by appearances, howe-
ver specious, and the circumstances of the world
seemed to justify the utmost vigilance and cir-
cumspection amongst the advocates of Ameri-
can liberty.

THE proceedings of this body gave Dunmore
SL distaste to assemblies, and they were accord-
ingly prorogued from time to time, on the usual
plea set forth in the proclamations, that there
was no present occasion for them ; a forgery, how-
ever, to an alarming extent, having been detected

VIRGINIA. 371

of the paper emission of the colony, the assem- 2HAP.
bly was convened for the purpose of devising *v> .,
means of guarding against the imposture. The
exertions of the governor himself had been
prompt and decisive ; but in the apprehension of 9£^
the supposed offenders, he had been little atten-
tive to those salutary bulwarks of private securi-
ty, which form the essence of free government.
The assembly of Virginia, true to their charac-
ter, did not in their alarm for the safety of tae
treasury, forget those principles on which rest
the pillars of social order, and in their reply to
the governor's communication, they say, " But
the proceedings in this case, my lord, thoagh
rendered necessary by the peculiar naiure of it,
are nevertheless different from the usual mode.
The duty we owe our constituents, obliges us,
my lord, to be as attentive to the safety of the
innocent, as we are desirous of punishing the
guilty, and we apprehend that a doubtful construc-
tion, and various execution of criminal law, does
greatly endanger the safety of the innocent: They
conclude by praying, u that the proceedings may
not in future be drawn into consequence and ex-
ample." The reply of the governor is strongly
marked by mortification and resentment. " In ap-
prehending," said he, " and bringing to justice
the forgers -of your paper currency, I little
imagined, when I was endeavouring to punish
the guilty, that my conduct could by any means
be thought to endanger the safety of the inno-
cent."

THE representatives having attended to the
purity of their civil jTroceedings, directed their
scrutiny to the internal and external state of
America at large, and with their usual sagacity
and spirit, they adopted the following resolutionso

375* HISTORY O*

CHAP. " WHERE A s the minds of his majesty's faith*
IV- ful subjects in this colony have been much dis«
" turbed by various rumours and reports of pro-
ceedings, tending to deprive them of their an*
cient, legal and constitutional rights ; and where-
as the affairs of this colony are frequently con-
nected with those of Great Britain, as well as of
the neighbouring colonies, which renders a com-
munication of sentiments necessary : In order,
therefore, to remove the uneasinesses, and to
quiet the minds of the people, as well as for the
other good purposes above mentioned.

•'* Be it resofoed, That a standing committee
of correspondence and inquiry be appointed, to
consist of eleven persons, to wit, the honoura-
ble Peyton Randolph, esquire, Robert Carter
Nicholas, Richard Bland, Richard Henry Lee,
Benjamin Harrison, Edmund Pendleton, Patrick
Henry, Dudley Digges, Dabney Carr, Archi-
bald Gary, and Thomas Jefferson, esquires, any
six of whom to be a committee, whose business
it shall be to obtain the most early and authentic
intelligence of such acts and resolutions of the
British parliament, or proceedings of admini-
stration, as may relate to or affect the British co-
lonies in America; and to keep up and maintain
a correspondence and communication with our
sister colonies, respecting these important con-
siderations, and the result of such their pro-
ceedings, from time to time, to lay before the
house.

" Resolved, That it be an instruction to the said
committee, that they do, without delay, inform
themselves particularly of the principle and au-
thority on which was constituted a court of in^
<]uiry, said to have been lately held in Rhode
Island, with powers to transport persons accused

VIRGINIA. 373

of offences committed in America, to places be- CHAP.
yond the seas to be tried. *v> .

" Resolved, That the speaker of this house
do transmit to the speakers of the different as-
semblies of the British colonies on this conti-
nent, copies of the said resolutions, and desire
that they will lay them before their respective as-
semblies, and request them to appoint some per-
son or persons, of their respective bodies, to
communicate from time to time with the said
committee."

THIS generous attention of Virginia to the gene-
ral interest of all the colonies, so distant from the
selfish policy but too apt to influence rival states,
produced every where at this time a sentiment of
tender respect and just admiration, alike due to
her conspicuous patriotism, and as being the
most ancient American possession. The Mas-
sachusetts legislature, speaking of her late re-
solves, dwell on the wise and firm conduct of
Virginia "at all times."

THE assembly of Rhode Island conclude one
of their resolves by the words, " the glorious
assembly of Virginia." To her was every where
allowed the honourable praise of having origi-
nated every capital measure since the commence-
ment of the disputes, and having supported them
all with a constancy and wisdom nowise inferior
to the ardour with which they had been adopted.
Nor was this done with any parade or assump-
tion of superiorty.

THE governor, meanwhile, proceeded on a
party of pleasure to the back settlements. Attract-
ed as it was then thought solely by curiosity, he
remained sometime at Pittsburg, and observed
with nice attention the nature of the country, the
circumstances of the people, and the tribes of

374 HISTORY OF

Indians contiguous to the frontiers. Every art o!
affability and condescension was played off, on
this occasion, to conciliate the inhabitants, and
frequent consultations of a private nature took
place- between him and a man of the name of
Conolly, who about this time was made a ma-
gistrate, and invested as commissioner among the
Indians with considerable powers. Conolly
was possessed of much sagacity, and was known
as the discoverer of the bones of the mammoth on
the Big Bone Lick at the falls of the Ohio. Some
taste, an intimate knowledge of Indan affairs, a
considerable knowledge of the world, and a lax
morality, pointed him out to Dunmore as a fit
instrument for executing plans of division and
blood, which unhappily for Britain had been de-
cided on in their depraved and phrenetic councils.
THIS project was of no less extent than to en-
gage Virginia and Pennsylvania in a civil war
about their territorial boundary, and to rouse
once more to arms the warlike tribes of savages,
whose fury had so often deluged the western set-
tlements with blood. Those states obliged to at-
tend to their immediate safety, would withdraw
their attention from the abstract usurpations of
parliament, and the governor being at the head
of the troops of the colony, might act either
with indecision or vigour, according to the na-
ture of circumstances. The plan being at length
fully decided on, Dunmore retraced his steps to
Wiliiamsburg, and Conolly immediately com-
menced his part against Pennsylvania, by se-
ducing several of its inhabitants from their allegi-
ance, and forming settlements on parts of its ter-
ritory under patents from the governor of Virgi-
nia. As part of this drama, an address from
several hundred persons inhabiting the lands tc

VIRGINIA. 375

the westward of the Lawrel Hills was presented CHAP.
to the governor on the road, disclaiming all alle-
giance to Pennsylvania, and praying that they
might be admitted as members of the colony.
These measures were calculated to excite the re-
sentment of Pennsylvania ; Con oily was taken
and held in confinement, and the settlers were
secured and punished as vagrants and outlaws.

A FULL representation of these several cir-
cumstances, was made by the governor to the
council on his arrival, and he laboured hard by
alarming their pride as Virginians, and by in-
flaming their resentment by an exaggerated state-
ment of Pennsylvanian violence,* to procure a
levy of troops for enforcing the rights of Virgi-
nia. But Dunmore was completely ignorant of
the grounds and merits of the dispute respecting
boundaries between the two colonies, whilst the
council on the other hand were absolute masters
of the question, and by .their advice, but much
to his dissatisfaction, a moderate but firm re-
monstrance was forwarded to Pennsylvania, de-
manding the release of her citizens, and submit-
ting their disputes to his majesty. Dunmore
had previously issued a proclamation, dictated in
l.mguage of haughtiness and incivility which was
repelled with decent but decided firmness.

THE arrival of lady Dunmore, with a nume-
rous family of sons and daughters, from New
York, afforded Virginia an occasion of manifest-
ing that true politeness and decent respect for
female worth which are inseparably connected
with bravery and intelligence. Several respect-
ful addresses were presented to his lady, congra-
tulatory of her arrival, and replete with favour-
able wishes for her happiness and health. The
assembly, which soon after convened, united in

HISTORY OF jl

these wishes, and the governor himself was con-
gratulau d by the council and house ol burgesses
on an t\trit so well calculated to augment his do-
mestic happiness.

AGRFEABLY to the plan which had been for
1774. some rime adopted , of enfeebling the energy of
the colonies, by the introduction of aristocratic
titles aid distinctions, rules of precedency were
drawn up urdtr the special direction of the he-
raid, determining the rank of the civil and mili-
tary officers and their ladies, and were officially
published a short time previous to the meeting
of the assembly.

BUT in the present grand agitation of public
sentiment, these impertinencies were held as ut-
terly beneath public notice ; for the Boston port
bill and other severe disabilities, to which the
virtuous inhabitants of Massachusetts were sub-
jected by acts of the British parliament, had ta-
ken entire possession of every heart, and exclud-
ed every feeling beside sympathy for their suffer-
ings and resentment of their wrongs.

LORD NORTH, in his insidious project, falsely
termed conciliatory, had taken off the obnoxious
duties, with the exception of three pence per
pound on tea, which was reserved for the avow-
ed object of legalizing and drawing into a prece-
dent the pretensions of parliament. As an in-
ducement to the East India Company, who had
ten millions of pounds of this commodity lying
in their stores, to embark in this trade directly
in the teeth of the American association, a draw-
back was allowed equarl to the amount of the du-
ties at the custom house, and the crisis at length
approached when America must either submit to
the unjust claims of her enemies, or by some
bqld and daring action intimidate or conquer their

VIRGINIA. 371

oppressors. She did not for a moment hesitate CHAP,
which alternative to adopt, and a resolution was
every where formtd of sending back or destroy-
ing the tea at the hazard of every consequence.
In Pennsylvania and South Carolina, the con-
signees were compelled to store the tea on the
express condition that it should not be sold, and
that it should be re- shipped the first opportunity.
In most cases, the vessels containing the obnoxi-
ous article were not permitted to unload. In
Boston, where every measure of coercion appear-
ed to be carried to an extremity by parliament,
the conduct cf the people was still more deci-
ded. The governor having refused to give a
clearance at the custom house, although solicited
by the consignees, to the ship conveying this
commodity, a number of citizens, habited as
Mohawk Indians, repaired on board and dis-
charged 240 chests of this abhorred and parlia-
mentary poison into the sea.

THIS bold measure drew down upon the town
of Boston the whole weight of ministerial ven-
geance. Deprived of her commerce, beset with
military violence, her citizens subjected to trans-
portation to England or elsewhere for trial, she
was at this moment threatened with famine, and
suffering all those extremities resulting from
martial law and lawless usurpation.

IT was hoped by these proceedings to break
the spirit of that province, and terrify the other
colonies by her example. L.une and infatuated
politicians, they were not acquainted with the
American character.

THE first intelligence of these flagrant op-
pressions produced throughout the American
colonies one unanimous determination to make
a common cause with their suffering sis-
2Z

-378

HISTORY OF

CHAP.
IV.

dissolved.

1774
May 27.

ter. The assembly of Virginia was in session
when the rough draughts oi the obnoxious bill
were crn;ir;unicattd in a letter from Massachu-
setts, ard as ii ever} other subject had been ut-
terly in. worthy their consideration at this crisis,
they pitLteced w i h one consent to an inquiry into
this intcietih £ t.-ul ject. An animated protest
was immediate ly t ntereel on their journals against
the latt acts, width resulted, the) affirmed, from
a determined system to reduce the inhabitants of
British America to slavery. Whilst engaged in
these animate- d proceedings:, they weie suddenly
summoned by the governor to the council cham-
ber, who hastily addressed them in the following
words :

Mr* Speaker and Gentlemen of the House of Bur-
gpsse?,

" I have in my hand a paper published by order
of }our house, conceived in such terms as re-
flect highly upon his majesty and the parliament
of Great Britain, which makes it necessary for
n.e to dissolve you, and you are dissolved ac-
cordingly."

On the follow ing day the members met by agree-
rrent, at the long room in the Hakigh tavern,
when the following agreement was unanimously
enten d into.

44 WE, his majest) 's most dutiful and loyal sub-
jects, the late lepiestntatives of the got d people
of this country, having been deprived, by the
si'f'den interposition d the executive part of this
g' ve-rr.ire nt. ii om gSvirg- cur countrymen the ad-
v ee- \ c w-iihed to convt) to them in a legislative
ci ]'-i-( i:y, iii.d (.nrselvts. under the hard necessity
cf i-d(;|sir,^ i his, ll:c cnly method we have left,
of oiiAlnf out lo cur countrymen such mea-

VIRGINIA, 37

sure* as, in our opinion, are best fitted to se- CHAP.
cure our dearest lights and liberty from de-
struction, by the heavy hand of power now lifted
against North America. Witii much grief we
fiiid that our dutiful applications to Grtat Bri-
tain for security of our just, arcient, and con-
stitutional rights, have been not only disregarded,
but that a determined sjstem is formed and pres-
sed tor reducing the inhabitants of British Ame-
rica to slavery, by subjecting them to the pay-
ment of taxes, imposed without the consent of
the people or their representatives ; and that in
pursuit of this system we find the act of the Bri-
tish parliament lately passed, for stopping the
harbour and commerce of Boston, in our sister
colony of Massachusetts Bay, until the people
there submit to such unconstitutional taxes, and
which act most violently and arbitrarily deprives
them of their property, in wharves erected by
private persons, at their own great and proper ex-
pense ; which act is, in our opinion, a most dan-
gerous attempt to destroy the constitutional li-
berty and rights of all North America. It is
•farther our opinion, that as tea, on its importa-
tion to America, is charged with a duty, i in-
posed by parliament for the purpose of raising a
revenue, without the "consent ci the people, it
ought not to be used by any person who wishes
well to the constitutional rights and liberty of Bri-
tish America. And whereas the India Company
have ungenerously attempted the ruin of Ame-
rica, by sending manv ii.ir/j loaded wit.ii. tea into
the colonies, thereby intending to fix a prece-
dent in favour of arbitrary taxation, we dee in it
highly proper, and do accordingly recommend it
strongly to our countrymen, nor to purchase or
use any kind of East India commodity whatso-
ever, except salt-petre and spices, until the griev-

380 HISTORY OF

ances of America are redressed. We are farther
clearly of opinion, that an attack made on one of
our sister colonies, to compel submission to ar-
bitrary taxes, is an attack made on all British
America, and threatens ruin to the rights of al!5
unless the united wisdom of the whole be ap-
plied. And for this purpose it is recommended
to the committee of correspondence, that they
communicate with their several corresponding
committees on the expediency of appointing de-
puties from the several colonies of British Ame-
rica, to meet in general congress, at such place
annually as shall be thought most convenient ;
there to deliberate on those general measures
which the united interests of America may from
time to time require.

u A tender regard for the interests of our fel-
low subjects, the merchants and manufacturers
of Great Britain, prevents us from going farther
at this time ; most earnestly hoping that the un-
constitutional principle of taxing the colonies
without their consent, will not be persisted in,
thereby to compel us, against our will, to avoid
all commercial intercourse with Britain. Wish-
ing them and our people free and happy, we are
their affectionate friends^ the late representa-
tives of Virginia."

" THE above was immediately signed by the
honourable the speaker and all the members of
the late house of burgesses, as well as by a num-
ber of clergymen and other inhabitants of the
colony, who, after having maturely considered
the contents of the association, did most cordi-
ally approve and accede thereto."

MEANWHILE the plan of Dunmore began ra-
pidly to unfold itself. Emboldened by the ter-
ritorial disputes between Pennsylvania and Vir-

VIRGINIA,

ginia, and those c.-iitrovemes of a still higher CHAP.
nature p the mother country and m * •

th- : too for their own safety

thrir remaining possessions

by the mysterious hi I artful discourses of

C .) it * i habited the vast cc

f the B' T -h- ments, commer

ii s i f i series of shock ing enorm ities, the

b ir: Hdian warfare. Parties of

•.ttilitix i-i vain assembled to repel and
i we th^be incursions; tii ^-pt away,

whiUt the defenceless inhabitants, consisting of
the aged, the women, and the children, who
were not abie to retire wkh sufficient celerii
fore the inundation, were inhumanly butchered,
or hurried away into a c worse thane

BUT t »ie great mnss of the peopl r>t as

formerly benumbed and palsied by the sound of
I: dmn war. The agitation universally ex
by the alarming pretensions of the British parlia-
ment, had communicated an energy and
lan,.e, a resolution and concert amongst them be-
come necessary for the arduous duties w
they wer^ every dav liable to be called on to dis-
charge ; arid on the first rumours they discover.
ed tne higheht ardour and impatience to march
out against the perpetrators of these shocking-
arid bvutual enormi

KOJSED iy the military ardour and indifr
tion which spread like a blaze through the colo-
ny, the governor at length aficcted to catch the
throb of military ar : i the glow of

a virtuous resentment and indignation. The
counties most c^ ; nemy were sum-

mo'. ion to furnish their quo'

of three thousand men
formed wilh a celerity proportion-id to the u

382 HISTORY OF

CHAP. Cy of the crisis, and honourable to the judgment
IVt and activity of the government.

BUT another object of even superior magni-
tude now eng iged the attention of the people.
Their late deputies, on th-rir dissolution, recom-
mended a convi-nd'jn to meet at Williamsburg
on the first day of An *u>t and town and coun-
try meetings every \viure took place for the pur-
pose of iioiniiiiti.rr d;p uies to this body. No-
thing could exceed tue public unanimity on
this O3casioii, nor ths vn i-^ulhie expression of
their eloquence;* and tht; deputies agreeably to
appointment* convened.

THE proceedings}- of this bo ly were few, but
in the highest degree nervous and impressive,

* Life and Liberty never shall bejiartcd.

This is the motto of the country, and we are unalterably
determined never to part with our liberties, let the ex-
pense ot defending them be what it may. We are told
that the ministry of Britain talk of taking av/ay our Char.
ter.1 Enemies to Gvl and man ! do they they think that we
••vill su'jinit to tyranny in our land ? The country which our
utiiers purchased with their blood, we will defend with our
blood. A COUNTRYMAN.

t A: a very full meeting of delegates from the different coun-
ties in ttc C'jhny u:i''i dimiwbn uf Virginia) begun in Wii-
liamsburg the first day of Auguy!) iu the year of our Lord
1774, a.T/ continued b:j several adjournments to Saturday
the sixth rf the same month, the folhwing Association ivao
unanimously resolved ufion and agreed t?.

We, l:is majesty's duliful and loyal subjects, the dele-

tctites of the freeholders of Virginia, deputed to represent

^t a g^nt-ral meeiing in the city of Williamsburg1,

-.v j..vinj.j our inviolable a>ul unshaken fidelity and attachment

f) our nv)3t gracious sovereign, our regard and afllctioh for

s :-j r.id fwllow subjscts in Great Britain and else-

VIRGINIA. 383

They entered into a detailed view of their rights CHAP,
and grievances. Different modes of redress were *

suggested and adopted, and a determined reso-
lution was announced, at all hazards nrver to
abandon the sacred cause in which they had en-
gaged.

where* protesting against every act or thing which may
have the most distant tendency to interrupt, or in anywise
disturb, his majesty's peace, end the good order of govern-
ment within this his uncicrt cr lor y, which we are resolved to
maintain and defend at the risk of pur lives and fortunes ;
but, at the same time, affected with the deepest anxiety,
and most alarming apprehension*, of those grievances and
distresses by which his majesty's American subjects are
oppressed ; and having taken under our most serious deli-
beration the state of the whole continent, find that the pre-
sent unhappy situation of our affairs is chiefly occasioned by
certain i!l advised regulations, as well of our trade as inter-
nal polity, introduced by several urconslitu'ional acts of the
British parliament, and st leng'.h attempted to be enforced
by the hand r=f p^ver. Sdely influenced by these import-
ant considerations, wethirk it an indispensable duly which
we owe to our country, ourselves, and latest posterity, to
guard aga nst such dangerous i.i\ti extensive mischiefs by
every jus: an«l proper means.

I*', by '.he measures adopted, some unhappy consequences
and inconveniences should be derived to our feilow sub-
jects, whom we wish not to injure in the smallest degree,
we hope and flatter.' ursHves that they nil] impu'e them to
their reai cau<-e, the haul necessity to which they are driven.

T -it thr i'-ood people- of this colony may, on so trying
an occasion, continue stedfostly diiectedto their most essen-
tial interests, in hopes thai they will be influenced and sti-
mulated bv our example to the greaest industry, the strict-
est economy and fi ugality, and the exercise of every pub-
lic virtue; persuaded that the merchants, manufacturers,
and other inhabitants of Great Britain, and above all, that
the British parliament wii> be convinced how much the true
interest of that kingdom must depend on the restoration ar-d
contiunance of that mu u<il friendship and cordiality which
so happily subsisted between us; we have unanimous y and
with one voice, entered into the following resolutions and

384 HISTORY OF

DEPUTIES were appointed to the general con-
gress appointed to meet at Philadelphia, and the
people encouraged to pay particular attention to
the breed of sheep and to domestic manufac-

association, which we do oblige ourselves by those sacred
ties of honour and love to our country, strictly to observe c
And farther declare, before God and the world, that we will
religiously adhere to and to keep the same inviolate in eve-
ry particular, until redress of all such American grievances
as may be defined and settled at the general congress of de-
legates from the different colonies shall be fully obtained*
or until this association shall be abrogated or altered by a
general meeting of the deputies of this colony, to be con-
vened as is herein after directed. And we do, with the
greatest earnestness, recommend this our association to all
gentlemen, merchants, traders, and other inhabitants of
this colony, hoping that they will cheerfully and cordially
accede thereto.

1st. We do hereby resolve and declare, that we will not
either directly or indirectly, after the first day of Novem-
ber next, import from Great Britain any goods, wares, or
merchandise whatever, medicines excepted ; nor will we,
after that day, import any liriiish manufactures, either from
the West Indies or any other place, ncr any article whate-
ver which we shall know, or have reason to bt;lit ve, war,
brought into such countries from Great Britain ; nor will
we purchase any such articles so imported of any person or
persons whatsoever, except such as are now in the coun-
try, or such as may arrive on or before the said Ut day of
November, in consequence of orders already given, and
which cannot now be countermanded in time.

2dly. We will neither oun-elvx-s import, nor purchases
any slave or slaves, imported by any person after ti -.
day of November next, either from Africa, the West In-
dies, or any other place.

3d!y. Considering the article of tea as the detestable in-
strument which laid the foundation of the present sufifenngs
of our distressed friends in the lawn ol Boston, we view it
with horror; and therefore resolve, thai we will not irorn this
day, either import tea of any kind whatever, nor will we
or suffer even such of it as :s now oa hand to bu us<.jd,
. in any of our families.

VIRGINIA. 385

tures. Instructions were at the same time drawn CHAP.

up for rf- ululating the conduct of their members IV~ .

of congress, in all of which they exhibit a com- 1774.
bjnation of zeal, sagacity and decision which
have seldom been equalled.

4thly. If the inhabitants of the town of Boston, or any
other colony, should by violence or dire necessity be com-
pelled to pay the East India Company for destroying any
tea, which they have lately by their agents unjustly at-
tempted to force into the colonies, we will not directly or
indirectly import or purchase any British India com-
modity whatever, till the companyj or some o'her person
on their behalf, shall refund and fully restore to the owners
all such sum or sums of money as may be so extorted.

Sthly. We do resolve, that unless American grievances
are redressed before the 10th day of August, 1775, we will
not, after that day, directly or indirectly, export tobacco, or
any other article whatever, to Great Britain ; nor will we
sell any such articles as we think can be exported, to Great
Britain with a prospect of gain to any person or persons
whatever, with a design of putting it into his or their power
to export the same to Great Britain, either on our own, his,
or their account. And that this resolution may be the more
effectually carried into execution, we do hereby recommend
it to the inhabitants of this colony to refrain from the cul-
tivation of tobacco, as much as conveniently may be ; and
in lieu thereof that they will, as we resolve to do, apply their
attention and industry to the cultivation of all such articles
as may form a proper basis for manufactures of all sorts,
which we will endeavour to encourage throughout this co-
lony to the utmost of our abilities.

6thly. We will endeavour to improve our breed of
sheep, and increase their number to the utmost extent, and
to this end we will be as sparing as we conveniently can in
killing of sheep, especially those of the most profitable
kind; and if we should at any time be overstocked, or can
conveniently spare any, we will dispose of them to our
neigbours, especially the poorer sort of people, upon mode-
rate terms.

Tthly. Restlved, that the merchants, and other venders of
goods and merchandises within this colony, ought not to
3 A '

HISTORY OF

EVERT movement announced the approach of
a grand and eventful crisis. Throughout America
resolutions were entered into by town and county
meetings, expressing the national sympathy for
the sufferings of Boston, and a solemn cletermi-

^ : . F

take advantage of the scarcity of goods that may be occa«
sio led by this association1, but that they ought to sell the
same at the rates they have been accustomed to for twelve
months last pist ; and if they shill sell any such goods on
higher terms, or shall in any manner, or by ar»y device what-
ever, violate or depart from this resolution, we will not, and
are of opinion that no inhabitant of this colony ought, at
any time thereafter to deal with any such persons, their
factors or agents, for any commodity whatever. And it is
recommended t > the deputies of the several counties, that
committees be chosen in each county* by such persons as
accede to this association, to lake effectual care that these
resolves be properly observed, and for corresponding occa-
sionally with the general committee of correspondence in
the c-ity of Williamsburg. Provided, that if exchange
should rise, such advances may be made in the price of
goods as shall be approved by the committee of each colony.
8thly. In order the better to distinguish such worthy mer-
chants and traders who are well wishers to the colony from
those who may attempt, through motives of self-interest, to
to obstruct our views, we do hereby resolve, that we will
not, after the first day of November next, deal with any
merchant or trader who will not sign this association, nor
until he hath obtained a certificate of his having done so
from the county committee* or any three members thereof.
An«i if any merchant, trader, or other person, shall import
any goods or merchandise alter the first day of November,
cnmrtry to this, association, we give it as our opinion that
such goods and merchandise should be either forthwith ie-
shipped or dclvtud up to the county committee, to be
stored at the risk of the importer, unless such importer
shall give a proper assurance to the said commute that such
goods or merchandises shall not be sold within this colony
d« ring the cm timiance of tin's association ; and if such irn-
p rur shall rduve to amply with one or the other of these
teims. upon application at d clue cauiion i>ivtn to him, or
her, by the said committee, or any three members thereof,

VIRGINIA.

nation to resist the tyrannical measures of the
British parliament. Contributions in money and
provisions where every where voluntarily sub-
scribed for the relief the inhabitants of Boston,
whose cause was declared to be that of all Bri-
tish America, and the public aitention directed

such committee is required to publish the truth of the case
in the gazettes, and in the county where he or she resides,
and we will thereafter consider such person or persons a$
inimical to this country, and break off every connection and
ail dealings with them.

9thiy. Resolved, that if any person or persons shall ex-
port tobacco, or any oiher co nmoditv, to Great Britain, after
the lOlh day of Aug. 1775, contrary to this association, we
shall hold ourselves obliged to consider such person or per-
sons as inimical to the community, and a-? an afifirover of
American grievances; and give it as our opinion, that the
public should be advertised of his conduct, as in the 8th ar-
ticle is desired.

lOthly. Being fully persuaded that the united wisdom of
the general congress may improve these endeavours to pre-
serve the rights and liberties in British America, we decline
enlarging at present ; but do hereby resolve, that we will
conform to and strictly observe, all such alterations or addi-
tions, assented to by the delegates for this colony, as they
may judge necessary to adopt, after the same shall be pub-
lished and made known to us.

I Ithly. Reiolv;d, that we think ourselves called upon by
every principle of humanity and brotherly affection, to ex-
tend the utmost and speediest relief to our distressed
fellow subjects in the town of Boston ; and therefore most
earnestly reconvnend it to all the inhabitants of this colony
to make such liberal contributions as they can afford, to be
collected and "emitted to Boston in such manner as may best
answer a desirable pnrpose.

I2thly, and lastly. Resolved, that the moderator of this
meeting, and incase of his death, Robert Carter Nicholas,
esq. be empowered on any future occasion that may in his
opinion require, to convene the several delegates of this
colony, at such time and place as he may judee proper;
and in case of the death or absence of any delegate, it is re-
commended that another be chosen in his place.

388 HISTORY pF

to the manufacture of arms and ammunition,
and to military discipline. The usual games
and sports of the people were evey suspended,
and the human mind was prepared by a variety
of judicious publications, and by the animated
discourses of popular orators, for a great and ap-
proaching conflict : Faces characterized by ar-
dour and determination were every where to be
s^en, and the sound of warlike preparation was
heard throughout the land.

THE governor meanwhile appeared to be busy
in preparing for an Indian war, an object to which
from its imminent danger and its barbarous atro-
cities, the public attention was now strongly di-
rected. The plans of the governor were not
yet mature, but all the arguments in favour of a
longer delay were exhausted, and the public im-
patience and indignation would no longer be con-
troule d ; under these circumstances the governor
directed the immediate march of the troops, one
part of which in order to take advantage of cir-
cumstances, he was resolved to command in
person.

AN express arrived at this time from the go-
vernor, that he had made a treaty with the Six
Nations and their cousins, the Delawares, who
had disclaimed all share in the outrages perpe-
trated by the Shawanese and their confederates:
The proceedings on this occasion were conduct-
ed as usual with Indian formalities ; the hatchet
was buried, belts of wampum interchanged and
the chain of friendship, according to their figu-
rative expression, cleared of rust and brighten-
ed : But the conduct of these tribes, notwith-
standing these professions, was not entirely free
from suspicion. It was believed that they had
co-operated with their allies, and that their appa-
rently pacific disposition proceeded either from

VIRGINIA. 389

fear, or a wish to paralize the vigour of military CHAP,
operations, by holding out the shew of friend- _
ship.

MEANWHILE the representatives of the Ame- American
rioan congress convened agreeably to appoint- congress,
ment at Philadelphia, and Peyton Randolph,
late speaker of the Virginia assembly, was cho-
sen speaker.

EEERY thing was expected from the meeting
of this celebrated body. To organize a govern-
ment ; to draw out the ele ments of moral sci-
ence for the establishn.ent of a system, which
should unite the properties of strength and beau-
ty ; to steer clear of the storms of passion and
the arts of faction ; to give their constituents
the example of their own lives ; to aid the laws
in stopping the growth of anarchy ; to inspire a
love of country and of glory ; to rouse the genius
of the nation, and direct its eagle flights to pur-
poses of grandeur and utility ; such were the sa-
cred duties which were expected from this ce-
lebrated association. They had to deliberate too,
seated on a volcano, and in the midst of arms ;
their bosoms would be alternately assailed by the
mingled sensations of tenderness and sorrow, of
terror and indignation ; they would have to mark
the horrors and waste of batde, the patient suf-
fering and determined courage of the oppressed,
and the temporary triumph of the oppressor ; to
mourn the death of the brave, to consecrate their
memory by the balm of public gratitude, to bla-
zon their exploits for the example of posterity.
And nobly did they realize those expectations.

THEN for the first time were exhibited on the
national theatre, the dignified figure of Wash-
ington, his mind strong in integrity ; too proud
to be corrupted ; too stubborn for seduction ;
•prepossessing every beholder with an involuntary

590 HISTORY OF

CHAP, sentiment of respect by the uncouth graces 6f
IV- his figure, and the unaffected dignity ofhis man-
ners. The imagination of Henry, spreading
like a blaze amongst his audience, and drama-
tizing every incident, which he touched, by the
magic influence of his manner. The profound
capacity of Pendleton, untaught in schools, yet
seizing as it were by intuition, the mysteries of
his subject. Then was admired the philosophic
ardour of Jefferson, smitten with the elegancies
of literature, and fired with the passion of mak-
ing his country the rival of civilized Europe *
The prompt and lively Lee, the courageous Han-
cock, the equally courageous, ardent and inde-
fatigable Adams ; the striking and singular pe-
culiarities of Franklin, whose mind by a na-
tural aptitude became familiar with every sub-
ject, by a sort of creative principle raised it-
self from nothing to the heights of science, and
which, equally hostile to the mysteries of politics
and electricity, snatched the lightning from the
heavens and the sceptre from the gripe of ty-
rants. Then too, was admired the generous pro-
digality of Morris, sustaining by his own private
resources the credit of his country ; the sincere
though courtly Randolph ; the lav/ knowledge of
John Adams, wonderfully exerted to enforce the
liberties of this country. But this assembly,
great though it was, exhibited but a single con-
stellation in the American heavens ; every state
had its group of stars. Eminent men in every
department were starting up, who were before
invisible. It appeared as if the breath of the
Almighty had animated statues of clay or mar-
ble, for the purpose of accomplishing the decrees
of his providence.

THE business of the meeting was opened by
Patrick Henry, in a speech which left a deep and

VIRGINIA. 391

indelible impression on his hearers. It was not CHAP,
a dissertation in detail of American wrongs :
That subject had been exhausted by incessant
repetition for the last ten years. Every man in
the country was familiar with it. It was rather a
solemn appeal to their feelings and judgment ; an
harangue in the manner of antiquity : Such as
might have been spoken to the Roman senate
when P) rrhus or Hannibal had entered Italy. He
was followed by K. H. Lee in a strain of corres-
ponding sentiment. Nothing could exceed the so-
lemnity of the scene, and when we associate the
anxious attention of thirteen states, of Britain
herself, and indeed of the civilized world, to
their deliberations; when we take in their own
personal feelings, their reflections on the novelty
and boldness of their situation; their apprehen-
sions of the result, mingled with their hopes and
their ambition, perhaps it is not too much to say,
that no single situation ever surpassed it in inter-
est and sublimity. No levities had place here,
no play of words, no light and sportive expres-
sions ; not a smile was to be seen ; their language
was suited to their feelings and situation, grand,
solemn and sublime.

COMMITTEES were appointed to prepare a de-
claration of rights, and a statement of such as
had been infringed by acts of parliament ; also,
a petition to the king and address to the people of
Great Britain, to the inhabitants of the province
of Quebec, and to the twelve colonies represent,
ed in congress. These performances, drawn up
in a stile so masterly as to challenge competition
with any of their kind in the old world, were
adopted by the house. It was at the same time
unanimously resolved, " tint contributions from
all the colonies, for supplying ihe necessities
and alleviating the distresses of our brethren at

392 HISTORY OF

CHAP. Boston, ought to be continued, in such manner,
IV- and so long as their occasions may require ;'?
and resolutions were entered into suspending the
importation of goods from G. Britain and Ireland,
or any of their dependencies, and of their manu-
factures from any place whatever, after the first
day of the succeeding December, and against
the purchase or use of such goods. It was also
determined, that all exports to Great Britain,
Ireland and the West Indies, should cease on
the 10th of September, 1775, unless American
grievances should be redressed before that time.
Letters were also addressed to the colonies of
St. John's, Nova Scotia, Georgia, and the Flo-
ridas, inviting them to unite in the common
cause of British America. The business before
them being completed, the house dissolved it-
self, having previously recommended another
congress to meet on the 10th day of the succeed-
ing May.

MEANWHILE the army had marched in two
Battle of divisions towards the Ohio. The greater part of
Point Plea- this body was composed of prime riflemen, and.
sant. au were considered as the most expert woodsmen

in Virginia. They were drawn principally from
the counties of Augusta, Botetourt, Bedford,
and Fincastle, and from the inhabitants of the
frontiers dispersed and ruined by Indian outrages.
For reasons which could not be understood, this
army, which if kept together, would have car-
ried every thing before it, was formed into two
detachments, and lo-d Dun more having dispatch-
ed colonel Andrew Lewis with 1500 men towards
the mouth of Great Kanhaway, proceeded at the
head of another and more powerful body higher
up the Ohio, with the view, as it is pretended,
of getting in the rear of the enemy, and des-
taging thtir towns. The distance at which he

VIRGINIA. 39

Snoved, no less than seventy, five miles from the CHAP,
other division, was considered as too great for
any efficient co operation ; and it was matter of
serious regret to Lewis and the brave men under
his command, that on approaching the centre of
the enemy's power, they should be deprived of
the assistance of more than half the army, by
plans whose scope and object appeared to all ut-
terly preposterous and incomprehensible. The
division of Lewis had now reached Poiut Plea-
sant, at the mouth of the Great Kanhaivay, when
intelligence was brought in that a large pany of
Indians were approaching within less than one
mile of the camp, and the account was instantly
confirmed by the scouts, several of whom, al-
though wounded, hud escaped the fury of the
enemy. Thei e was no time to be lost. An ad-
vance of 300 men, under the command of colo-
nels Lewis and Fleming, was orded to the attack,
assisted by captains Dickenson, Uurison, Wil-
son, I. Lewis, Lockridge, Burford, Love, Shel-
ves , and Russell. Lewis commanding the first
division, marched to the right at some distance
from the Ohio ; Fleming, with the second divi-
sion, to the left on the banks of that river. The
front of the right wing was attacked at sun rise,
about an half a mite from the camp, by the united
force of the Shawanese, I) e la wares, M in goes,
and Tawas, amounting to ljUO men. In this
dreadful attack, conducted with ail t.he subtlety
and precision of Indian war; the fi r-ig UMS in-
cessant and the slaughter prodigious. A; mo it
in the very commencement of the ac;ion, Lewis
was mortally wounded ; several of tne men were
killed, and the whole of the division, ua ;bie to
(endure the heavy fire of tne enemy, give way.
The firing was scarcely heard on uie right, vv^ca
5 13

HISTORY OF

the division of Fleming was attacked also in
front, by anothe r boch of savages equally power-
fill, and the e fleet was almost the same. Flem-
ing, after receiving two balls through his left
wrist, continued to animate his men, and pre-
served the most admiiable coolness and presence
of mind. His advice, repeated often in a loud
voice to his sddiers, was not to retire an inch,
but continually advance and outflank the enemy,
and if possible to get between them and the ri-
ver. A short time after the commencement of
the action, both parties were entirely covered,
and the most astonsihing precision took place on
both sides.

BY the advice of Fleming, the Virginians were
accustomed to hold their hats from behind the
trees, which being mistaken by the enemies for
their heads, were shot at : The hats were imme-
diately dropped, and the Indian supposing that
he had killed his man, ran up for the purpose of
taking off* his scalp, when he was instantly dis-
patched. The commander at length, whilst ani-
mating his men, received a third shot through
the right lobe of his lungs ; but his unconquera-
ble spirit would not permit him to retire, and
his division conforming to his advice, continued
slowly to advance and outflank the enemy, They
were themselves, however, in danger of being
taken in flank by the body which had defeated
the division of Lewis, when a reinforcement un-
der colonel Held seasonably came up, and the
contest along trie whole line was renewed with
the utmost fury. The Indians now befran to give
way; but every inch of ground was still con-
tested, and by a fatality this day common to
the commanders, colonel Field was killed whilst
leading the pur.-uit. The Indians, about one
o'clock, having reached a position extremely 'dif-

VIRGINIA. 39

ficult of access, once more made a stand, from CHAP,
which it was at present thought unadvisable to
attempt their dislodgement. Tne troops halted
as they were then formed, and rested on their
arms. The whole line extending aboat one mile
and a quarter, had sustained a constant and equal
weight of the action from wing to wing, and a
scattering fire still continued on both sides until
half an hour after sunset, when the enemy made
good their retreat in safety and without being
pursued.

THE loss of men in this engagement, which
lasted from the rising to the setting of the sun,
will be considered as trifling by those who are
unacquainted with Indian warfare. It should
be remembered that both parties were covered
during the greater part of the day, and their
astonished precision may be collected from the
loss of officers. Of the three field officers two
were killed on the spot, and a third wounded in
three places. More than half the captains and
subalterns were killed or wounded. The total of
killed and wounded amounted only to one
hundred and forty, fifty three of which were
amongst the slain : Another evidence of the ex-
traordmary precision is, that almost all the killed
and wounded on both sides, were shot in the
head and breast.

THE evening after the battle, an express ar.
rived from the governor, with instructions for co-
lonel A. Lewis to join them in the neigbourhood
of the Shawanese towns, a distance of nearly 80
miles, and where his route would lie through a
country hostile, difficult of access, and swarm-
ing with Indians. As his lordship must have
been ignorant of the late victory, these instruc-
tions were regarded as extraordinary, it having
been previously determined that both detach.

HISTORY OF

CHAP. Vnents should approach each other, for the pur-
_x i v po^e of inciosu'g the Indians, and Intercepting
" tlu-ir retreat; aiid u -u oicion prevailed after-
wards*, confirmed ^y the disclosure of Conolly's
agenc) , that the division under Lewis was devot-
ed to destruction, for the purpose of breaking the
the spirit of Virginia, and rendering the influ-
ence and reputation of the governor brighter and
mo*e efficient.

MEANWHILE colonel Lewis, anxious to
avenge the deuth of his brother, and in obedi-
en e to ihe wishes of the army, all of whom
were animated by the same spirit, proceeded to
the destiuetK.noi .he Shr!wai*ese villages; but on
his way he wa*> stopt by an express, informing him
that the Indians had procured a peace from the
governor, on condition that the lands on this
side the river Ohio should be forever ceded to the
whites; that their prisoners should be delivered
up, and that four hostages should be immediate-
ly given for the faithful performance of these
conditions.

WHILST engiged in adjusting the terms of
the peace, it was perceived by lord Dunmore and
his party, that Logan, a Mi ago chief of great
celebrity, did not make his appearance among the
deputies, and apprehensions were entertained
that the treaty would be insecure without the
sanction of his name ; or that he kept himself
aloof, that he might be at liberty to engage in
Fresh hostilities. Logan was equally renowned
for hospitality and courage, and previous to the
late war, had been the steadfast friend of the
whites, whose vast superiority in arts and inven-
tion, had been objects of admiration to his saga-
cious but untutored mind. As an orator and
counsellor, he had been conspicuous in the coun-
cils of the Indians ; but in the war, contrary to

VIRGINIA.

his past habits and principles, his hostility against CHAP.
the Virginians had not been only steady and vio- _ v>
lent, but savage, pitiless and inexorable, and it "
appeared as if he wished to obliterate every ves-
tige of ancient benefits, in the number, variety
and savtigeness of his recent murders. Some
attempts had been made to account for a change
So extraordinary : It was variously rumoured
that the family of Logan had been killed in cold
blood by a party of Virginians, headed by cap-
tain Cresap, or a man of the name of Greathouse,
and that the venerable chieftain, shocked at a trea-
chery and cruelty af.ended by so m my circum-
stances of aggravating baseness, had devoted him-
self to revenge. But this was only rumour, and
amidst the hurry and tumult of war, no inquiry
ears to have been m idc imo the transaction.
At length a man appeared in the absembly bea.i'ig
in his hand a letter with the s'ginture of Lo^an.
He found it tied, he said, to a war ciub in a cabin
at some distance from the lines. I- was address
to lord Dunmore, and was couched in the fol-
lowing words.

" I APPEAL to iny white man to say, if ever
he entered Logan ':•> cabin hungry, anrl he ^ive
him not meat : if ever he came cold and naked,
and he cloathed him not. During the course «;f
the last long and bloociy war Logan remained idle

this cabin, an advocate for peace. Such was
y love for the whites, that my countryman •
pointed as they parsed, and said-, * Logan is ^
friend of white men.' I had even thought to have
lived with you, but for the injuries of on- mm.
Colonel Cresap, the last spring, in cold bio:;
and unprovoked, murdered ail the relations of
Logan, not even sparing my women and chil-
dren. There runs not a drop of my blood in the
veins of any living creature. This called on me

398 HISTORY OF

CHAP, for revenge. I have sought it : I have killed
__ many : 1 have fully glutted my vengeance :
"" lor my country I rejoice at the beams of peace.
Buc do not harbor a thought that mine is the joy
oi tear. Logan never felt fear. He will not
turn on his neei to save his life. Who is there
to mourn for Logan ? — Not one."

NOTHING can be imagined more venerable
than the strain of tender and lof;y sentiment run-
ning througn ttiis short address. Parts of it rise
into the highest order of moral sublimity : It re-
minds us of Oosian, *' the last of his race ;" of
Fmgal " in the last of his fields," Subsequent
inquiries attest the veracity of Logan : But an
elaborate statement of this interesting transaction
will be found in " Jefferson's Notes on Virgi«
ma," a book with which it should be presumed
ever)' American is acquainted.

APPENDIX,

General Reflections. — L iterature. — Manners.—
Commerce — Revenues.

THE last fifty years } although fora consider-
able portion of that time deficient in interesting-
matter, contain several particulars which fully en-
title them to attention. During the whole of the
;er-i. comprised between the project of Spots-
u.-jocl and its successful accomplishment, in 1763,
the growth of Virginia was unusually rapid, and
although the arts by no means kept pace v/ith

VIRGINIA. 3S

commerce during this aera, they too gradually ad- CHAP,
vanced, and their infant specimens g:ive a pro-
mise of maturity and glory.

MR. STITH'S history of Virginia has been al-
ready noticed ; a work which, although its scope
is much more narrow, and the affairs of which it
treats of far less dignity, is little, if any thing,
inferior in execution to lord Clarendon's history
of the civil disputes in England.

THE scheme of education had gradually be-
come more liberal, and men of erudition attracted
by the rising fame of the colony and trfe generous
patronage held out by the legislature, abandoned
their countries, and became professors in the uni-
versity. The} came recommended by the bishop
of London, and were generally ministers of the
gospel, Irom an idea prevalent in Europe, that
the established religion should become a neces-
sary part of public instruction, and that there
was less to be apprehended from heresy and infi-
delity, when the principal stations were filled by
the licensed champions of orthodoxy. Now and
then, however, in spite of the jealous scrutiny
of the metropolitan, some unbeliever would steal
into the fold, and notwithstanding the decided
preference to the church, superior genius would
sometimes recommend a lay professor. This
was the case particularly in the mathematical de-
partment, for which the divines were generally
incompetent. It having long been the habit with
that class to content themselves with the portion
of academic information barely requisite for their
degrees: Some Greek and Latin, and some-
times a smattering of Hebrew, with abundance
of logic and theology.

DURING a considerable portion of this asra,
this department was filled by Mr. Small, to the
great benefit of Virginia. Almost all those emi-

400 HISTORY OF

CHAP, nent spirits who figured in this and the succeding
_JV- _ era, were formed by this admirable man, and
whatever may have been subsequently his princi-
ples of government, it cannot be a mauer of in-
difference to this able philosopher, the friend and
companion ot the poetic aiid philosophic Dar-
win, that his pupils in America should have rais-
ed so high their own feme arid the glory of their
country.

ABOUT the same time were forming in Penn-
sylvania souls of corresponding vigour and capa-
t\ . The^liberul and learned Logan ; the humble
Godfrey, fated like the invtntor of the mariner's
compass, to lose tin fame as well as iht rewards
of his discovery ;' the self- -aught Franklin; the
self taught and modest Hittei house, who may be
stiled the Newton ol America.

IN 1736 the first newbpapei was published at
William^burg, under the cliieetion of a Mr.
Purdie. The province was before indebted to
the g tzettes of Boston and Pemibj ivun?a, and a
lew of the richer class were occasionally supplied
with European journals. Soon as this iocub pre-
sented itself, the genius of the country, \\hch
beiore, for the want of a repositary, either slept
or wasted itself in trifles for the want of an ade-
quate moiive, was awakened from its long ai.d
death-like sleep : Rays ci iu,ht from ail parts of
tne circle \\ere converging towards this common
centre. They were at tirst faintly etched, but
they soon became, brighter and more defined,
and promised at no dissuiit period to lose their
separate brightness in a blaze oi continuous glory.
IN the session of 1744 Jure is a manifest im-
provement in the .stile of the communications be-
ii the several departments of government, la
1748 the advertisements ol the booksellers prove
a considerable expansion of intellect. They had

VIRGINIA: 401

bre this time, with very few exceptions, enu- CHAP,
merated in their catalogues abundance of theo- _ lv-
logy, a!;d a tew of the minor classics. The ad- Appendix.1
vertibements of this date contain some of the
most approved writers in the arts and sciences,
and the best editions of the ancient and modern
classics.

THIS year the celebrated Mark Catesby died
in London, leaving behind him two hundred cop-
per plates of American birds and beasts, drawn,
engraven and coloured from the life by himself.

THE permission of the president in 1752, to
the New York company to build a theatre, may
be taken as another evidence of the growing re-
finement of manners.

THE arrival of Fauquier gave a decided de-
termination to the literature of Virginia. Ele-
gant in his manners, correct and classical in his
Conversation and writing, the patron of learning
and learned men, he was regarded by Virginia
as a model of the scholar and fine gentleman,
and his example was every where the object of
humble imitation. Professor Small, whose ma-
thematical skill has been already noticed, with
many others of merit, felt the ray of his patron-
age and bounty. It had been well if the gover-
nor had in other respects exhibited himself as a
model equally worthy of imitation, liis rage
for play introduced it more generally amorgst the
people than his more useful and estimable quali-
ties, and this execrable vice appeared to be sanc-
tioned by the example of the most amiable man,
and most elegant gentleman in the country.

A RAGE for botanical knowledge, induced in

a great measure by the successful and glorious

example of Linnaeus, had for some time made

|ts way into Virginia, and in no part of the

3 C

402 HISTORY OF

CHAP, world was it prosecuted with more industry or
IV. genius. The Flora Virginica of the celebrated
Appendix. Clayton was published at Leyden in 1762, under
the direction ot Gronovius. He lived in Glouces-
ter county, and left behind him botanical manu-
scripts, which are thought to be more valuable
than his printed work.

THE manners of a people have so intimate
a connection with their literary advances, that a
knowledge of the one almost induces an acquain-
tance with the other.

MADEIRA wine, in considerable quantities,
was imported into Virginia during this period,
and so early as 1741, almonds, Barcelona rai-
sins, Zante currents, Lucca olives, candied le-
mon and orange peals, perfumed comfits, eningo
root, anchovies and capers, were in use and re-
quest. The character ol the people for hospita-
lity and expense was now decided, and the wealth
of the land proprietors, particularly en the banks
of the rivers, enabled them to indulge their pas-
sions even to prolusion and excess. Drinkii g
parties were fashionable in which the strongest
head or stomach gained the victory. The mo-
ments that could be spared from-the bottle were
devoted to cards. Cock-fighting was also fash-
ionable. I find in 1747, a main of cocks ad-
vertised to be fought between Gloucester and
James river. The cocks on one side were called
liacorfs Thwider bolts, after the celebrated rebel
oi 1676.

The external revenues of Virginia, or those le-
vied according to the regulations of trade, can-
not be estimated with any precision, without the
possession of documents which are at present
unattainable by the author. In 1 676, they were
estimated by Giles Bland, collector of the upper
district of James River, to be worth to the mo-

VIRGINIA,

ther country 100,0001. communibus annis ; but
as the increase of commerce would furnish new
items of taxation, the present revenues must
greatly exceed that estimate. The revenue aris-
ing from a single commodity, may perhaps fur-
nish some ground of conjecture ; but this was so
much more considerable than the rest united, that
no certain estimate could be built on the exports
of this article, which varied from 50 to 60 thou-
sand hogsheads. An ingenious statist estimates
the revenues of Virginia arising from the regu-
lation of trade, at 400,0001. per annum. This
I think, however, must be over-rated.

THE internal taxes levied for the administra-
tion of government, within the colony, were,
with the exception of the governor's salary, con-
tinued on the same scale of economy by which
they had ever been managed. Three pounds and
a half of tobacco formed each nun's part of the
public levy. During the last seven years the
tytheables, or those who contributed to the sum
of the public levy, amounted to one hundred
and ninety five thousand.

INNUMERABLE instances of courage, intelli-
gence, genius, ardour and enterprize are found
during the latter part of this era. In right of the
treaty of 1763, a vast and horrid region denomi-
nated the wilderness was penetrated, and to the
astonishment of the adventurers, the green ver-
dure of an eternal spring burst at once upon their
view. The political disquisitions of Lee, Bland,
Dickenson, and Jefferson, v/hilst they disciplin-
ed the genius, confirmed the patriotism of the
people. The stile of Franklin is a model in its
way of perspicuous iaconism, useful apoghthem
and splendid epigram. Nor was science neglect-
ed. Franklin is a name too familiar to require
notice in this place. Page, as an astronomer, en-

HISTORY OF

joyed the respect even of the inspired Rittenhouse,
The newspaper too an useful and familiar medium^
had lor some time become a vast and splendid
focus, which was incessantly sending abroad rays
of chearing warmth and temperate giory.

VARIOUS towns had been established during
this era oy act of assembly : But there appeared
frjm the first settlement a lixed and unconquera-
ble repugnance to this mode of cohabitation, and
the few th it existed advanced but slowly in wealth
or population. The increase of population was
nevertheless astonishing throughout America ;
that of Pennsylvania alone, amounting so early
as 1755 to 220,000 souls.

CHAPTER V.

Preliminary observations. Lord Dunmore conveys
the powder by nig lit from the magazine. — Peo-
ple of Williamsburg are with difficulty restrain-
ed from attacking the palace.— Military assem-
bly at Fredericks burg, — Patrick Henry marches
to demand the restoration of the powder — Re-
turns ajter receiving payment. Lady Dunmore
retires on board the Fowey. Meeting and pro-
ceedings of council. — Marines sent by captain
Montague Jor defence of the palace. Indigna-
tion of the people — Fright of Dunmore — agrees
to summon assemlby. — Extraordinary appear-
ance of this body. — Flight of Dunmore — Com-
munication between him and the assembly. —
Dunmore commences a predatory warfare, and
enlists negroes. — Committee of safety. — Conven-
tion.— Battle of Great Bridge. — Affair in Prin-
cess Ann. — Norfolk is burnt. — British attack
Hampton, and are beaten off. Guinrfs Island.
Lord Dunmore burns a part of his fleet outside
oj the Capes, and proceeds for water to the Po-
tomac. Virginia declares herself independent.
Proceedings in congress and the other states.—
Military operations of 1776.

CHAPTER V.

THE several causes of disgust, which since
the year M65 had been accumulating in North-

America, had now attained their crisis, and it

Preiimina- required the utmost delicacy and judgment to
ry observa- handle th~ machine of colonial government with-
tions. Ollt; effecting a suspension or even a total extinction
of its powers, its several parts had become so
disordered > either through some original vice in
its structure, or through a want of skill and atten-
tion in repairing its defects, that even to touch, was
to endanger wholly iis uses. The people, fatigued
with reiterating their complaints and remon-
strances against the injustice of their government,
rested in gloomy silence, waiting impatiently
some occasion which should justify their revolt.
Lord Dun more in his palace, preserved a cold
and gloomy state, tenacious of the execution of
his orders, yet fearful of attempting to enforce
them in tht; present ferment of public opinion.
A true account of the battle of Point Pleasant
had gotten abroad, and the laurels with which he
hud vainly decked himself on account of that
event, began to wither on his brow. Every post
brought accounts of popular movements, strong-
ly impressed by patriot ardour, and spontaneous
eloquence ; resolutions and addresses, in the true
spirit of antiquity, poured in from every quarter,
directing the public contempt and indignation

VIRGINIA.3 407

against those corrupt ministers who sought in the
oppression of the American provinces to esta-
blish their wicked principles of government
throughout the empire.

THE public journals too, faithful to the princi-
ples which can alone afford security to the press,
generously seconded the popular impulse and
gave body and spirit to the public will. Innu-
merable essays conceived and executed with
judgment ; the lively paragraph, the quick and
pointed reply, the instructive anecdote and spark-
ling epigram, severally contributed their quotas
in ail the varieties in which the human capacity
is capable when set free from the fetters of habit
and the slavery of precedents. — The people of
Virginia and her sister states may not inaptly
be compared to a giant collected in his might,
having all his powers immediately at his com-
mand and prepared to strike.

THE effort on both sides was too painful to last
longer, and Dunmore was relieved from his state
of suspense and uncertainty by an order addressed
at the sume time to the governors of the provin- more con-
ces, to disarm the people by seizing on the se/e- ve>s llle
ral depots of arms and ammunition, and to adopt Powde^
such other precautionary measure as in their ^razirfe
judgments were best calculated to check the sup- at Wiiii-
postd disposition to rebellion. Immediately on amsburg.
receipt of these instructions, lord Dunmore se-
cretly conveyed the powder from the magazine in
Williamsburg on board the Magdalen man of war,
and knowing that this measure would confirm
the jealousies and inflame the resentment of the
people, he immediately armed his servants, toge-
ther with the Shawanese hostages, for the defence
of his person, and prepared a considerable num-
ber of extra musquets, which lay on the palace
floor ready loaded and primed for the occasion.

HISTORY OF

He was not content with these precautions, and
the captains of the ships of war lying at York
were instructed to have in readiness a picked body
of marines and sailors to march at a moment's
warning for the defence of the palace.

THE first intelligence of this event was attend-
The people ed with all the effects which had been foreseen,
are with The volunteers of Williamsburg immediately
difficulty £ew to amSj an(j could with difficulty be restrain,
from*!"- ec* by the treasurer and speaker, from rushing to
tacking the the palace, and seizing the person of the gover-
palace. nor. The people of Williamsburg convened
without any notice, and voted that a deputation
should be sent to demand an immediate restitu-
tion of the powder.

THE mayor, aldermen and common council
accordingly waited on the governor, and warmly
remonstrated against the injustice of taking the
colony's property, and the inhumanity of disarm-
ing the people at the moment when there was too
much reason to apprehend an insurrection of
their slaves. The govtrnor's answer was couch-
ed in terms of politeness and apparent sincerity.
He solemnly protested that the act complain.ecl
of, arose from his attachment to the safety of
the colony, and from his apprehension that in the
event of an insurrection the magazine did not
promise sufficient security against a surprise ;
that he removed it in the night to avoiel alarming
the inhabitants, and that it should be returned so
soon as it should be decieled that his caution was
unnecessary.

THIS answer was every where considered as a
mean and scandalous evasion. It was said that
if an insurrection was apprehended, the arms
and ammunition ought to be put in the hands of
the people, and a guard placed at the magazine,.
His promise of restoring the powder was re-

VIRGINIA. 409

garded as extorted by fear, and it was justly con- CHAP.
eluded that no reliance was to be placed on a
man, the audqpity of whose conduct was equalled
only by the weakness, and folly of his justifica-
tion, and who had not even the courage to avow
his proceedings.

THESE suspicions were justified by his subse-
quent conduct. Parties of negroes mounted
guard every night at the palace, which was in
some measure fortified. Lady Dunmore and her
family were conveyed by night on board the Fo-
wey. Threats were industriously propagated by
his creatures, that the first tumult should be in-
stantly punished by burning the town and mas-
sacring its inhabitants.

THE indignation of the people was wrought up
to a pitch bordering on madness, and reports of
those inhuman threats having gone abroad,*

* About the fourth or fifh day of the general court,
which was a day or two before Easter, it was reported in
Williamsburg, that lord Dunrm.re had taken the locks off
from most of the guns in the magaz ne, and that he in-
tended to remove the powder from thence on board the Fo-
wey man or war. This report was said to have b- en nude
by one M Hei\ a Sc< tchm^n, an armourer employed by h.-rd
Dunmore to clean and repair the public arms. The people
of the town were at first alarmed and provoked at the re-
po't, and the town vr lunteers kept a strict eye constantly
over the magazine, and a pretty r>iro :g i*uard over il every
night, and pa rolled the streets till day break for several
nights after Miller's report. But at ler.g h disbelieving it,
they grew a little negligent, and on T'-ursday night, the
20th, djscharged their guards ard patr«l so long beiore clay,
that captain O-liins, of the Magdalen armed schooner, with
the assistance of some marines and sailors of the Fowev,
who had been concealed at the palace by lord Dunmore's or-
der, suddenly carried off in his lordship's liitle waggon, ail
the powder it could conveniently carry, about aixiten and
£n half barrels, to Harwell's Ferry, where it was put on

3D

4iO HISTORY OF

CHAP, the alarm ran like an electric shock through
the other ecu n tits, and tsch successively caught
and communicated the flame. The inhabitants
of the upper country met at W illiamsburg, to the
number r.f fillet n hundred prt pared to march
down to the assistance of the capital ; to seize
the governor and crush at once the seeds of insur-
rection. \Vith this view three citizens were de-
puted to repair to Frederick sburg, for the purpose
of ascertaining the precise state of affairs, and to
assure the people of that town, that they only wait-
ed their wish to march to their assistance. The
deputies used such extraordinary exertions, that
they reached \\iiliaiT.sbuig on the same day.--
The citizens, however, aft ir pay ing a just tribute
to the affectionate zeal of their countrymen, thought
proper to decline the preferred aid, alledgingtbat
they did not apprehend any danger, and that the
governor had promised to restore the powder,
"1 his answ er be'i g re j ;ortt d to the Frederick meet-
ing, it was decided that the people of Williams-

board the Magdalen or some o'hcr tender, and carried
down to Noifclk lo the Fowey, which receiver i», ci'd Guile'ii
rcur.d tolork wiih tie Magdalen and a under or two. The
inl r.bitarls of the city, r-s seen as they learned that lord
l3iiiirrr.it had udtovcuied to disarm then;, by removing
the locks from the rcuskels, and the powder from the maga-
zine, and that lie had clone this by bringing &mongst them
an arn.ed force, fr< m the rnan rf war, were greatly alarm-
ed -,i d incei sed, and much mortified that s-ich an insult hatj
been ofTercd them, and that their enemies had shewn so
much more vigilance than they had, and had performed an
exploit which carried the air of a triumph, and seemed to
iT>ji?k thf-m with the charge of negligence or cowardice. To
wipe off this stab, they flt:w to arms, detti mined to seize
on ;ord Dtintnore and his advisers, and compel him to bring
back the powder; hut the speaker, treasurer, and other
cool and moderate men, prevailed on the volunteers not to
use any violence.

VIRGINIA, 41

burg being under the influence of their fears, were CHAP.
not competent to decide on a question which equal-
ly interested the inhabitants of Virginia, and ail
America, and it was determined to march to their
asbistance.

THIS decision had scarcely been formed, when
Pry ton Randolph, the late speaker to the Virgi-
nia assembly, and one of the deputies to the ge-
neral congress, arrived at the house of Edmund
Pendieton, one of his colleagues, on his way to
Philadelphia. It was at this time a prevailing opi-
nion with ail the leading patriots in America, that
resistance should be justified in the eyes of God
and the world, by the most perfect decorum and
moderation on the part of the people, and the most
flagrant and avowed violence on that of the govern-
ment. Under this impression these gentlemen
transmitted to the Fredericksburg meeting their
solemn advice, to abstain somewhat longer, till
the legislature of the union, which would be im-
mediately in session, should decide on a plan of
general and effective resistance.

To consider this opinion so imposing from the
high reputation of those gentlemen, one hun-
dred military deputies*<were chosen, and after a
long and animated debate, the question was car-
ried against immediate hostility by a majority of
one only.

THE report of those proceedings had a fortu-
nate tendency to confirm the hopes and courage
of the friends of liberty throughout America, and
in checking the pride and damping the expectati-
ons of the disaffected. The military association
at Fredericksburg encamped in the fields, com-
pletely armed and equipt for service, and furnished
with provisions for several days. Notwithstand-
ing some heavy rains, they refused to be quarter-
ed in the town, and they submitted to the decisi

412 HISTORY OF

CHAP, on of their council with evident disappointment

_v and regret. At the same moment thousands were

arming in other parts of the country, and uaiud

onlx ioi tLe Fitdtrick&buig decision to begin their

march,

M HE volunteers of Hanover county alone refus-
ed obedience to this decision, aj;d were resolved
iili.i-y. to recovtr the powder or perish in the attempt.
Tlit) h d chosen for their leader Patiick Henry,
the \oungtr, a man every way qualified by the
txtn me ardor of his temper a^d his commanding
eloquence. The magnanimous spirit which im-
peiltcl him in 1765, to denounce the views of the
Biitish Cabinet, had strongly recommended him
to the support and admiration of his country, and
after having exhibited the same steady and ani-
mated resistance in several sessions of i he Virgi-
nia Legislature, he had lately been appointed to
support the interests of America in the legislature
oi the union. The late violence of Dunm.ore.and
his sanguinary threats against the persons and pro-
perty of the inhabitants of Williamsburg, had
roused him in common with his countrymen, and
he determined to defer his attendance in congress
until he had established the safety and repose of
his native state.

HE proceeded from Hanover town with only
his own company of volunteers, but on his march
his number was continually swelled by reinforce-
ments, and when he reached Doncastle ordinary,
sixteen miles from Williamsburg, his force was
estimated at 500 men.

THIS movement afforded the most serious alarm
to the governor. Young Henry was an object
that had long excited in his bosom the most deadly
hatred and abhorrence. He had been regarded
r a long time as an advocate, not merely of re-
sistance oa constitutional grounds ; but of abso-

VIRGINIA, 413

ilite and unqualified independence, and every thing CHAP.
was appn handed from his determined spirit and ,

the overbearing influence of his eloquence. The
cnflamed state too of the public mind, required
only a single spark to raise it into open and gene-
ral revolt, and it was appiehended chat this inci-
dent notwithstanding the late fortunate compo-
sure of public irritation would light anew the half
smothered fire of resentment and rebellion.

IN this exigence lord Dunmore condescended Governor
to solicit the advice of his council. This body calisacoun-
which consisted at this time of president Nelson, c
commissary Camm, president of the College,
Ralph Wormley, colonel G. Corbin, G. Corbin,
junr. Wm. Byrd, and John Page, proceeded to
the council chamber in the capitol ; but the go-
vernor was unwilling to trust himself beyond the
verge of his fortification, and requested their at-
tendance at the palace. When they lied seated
themselves, he in the usual form addressed them
on the state of public affairs, and detailed briefly
the causes which had induced him to call them
together. The affair of the powder, the immedi-
ate cause of the present ferment, he endeavored
to excuse by stating his fears that the volunteer
companies might have been tempted during their
musters to seize the public magazine, a step which
would infallibly call down on them the vengeance
of insulted majesty ; that owing to this salutary
measure, which should have entitled him to the
esteem and gratitude of the country, the present
unhappy commotions had taken place, and tn
even his life had been exposed to daily and em-
inent danger. He concluded by recommend-
ing a proclamation calculated to quiet the minds
of the people, and put a stop to those excess
which if persisted in could not fail of exposing
them to certain and inevitable destruction. After a

414 HISTORY OF

long pause, John Page, the youngest member,
ed whether if the board should so advise, his lord.
ship would consent to restoring the powder, ad-
ding at the same time, that this measure alone was
wanting to restore the public tranquility. The
wrath of the governor displayed itself in rude and
indecent terms on this occasion, and no one hav-
ing ventured to second Mr. Page, a silence took
place of several minutes. The governor at length
having resumed his politeness, rose up and retir-
ed for the purpose as he declared of leaving them
to a free and unbiassed deliberation. A procla-
mation was at legth drafted by Ralph Wormley,
calculated rather to enflame than sooth the present
discontents : but a majority of the board although
directly opposed to the claims of the people, de-
clared themselves in favor of a milder and more
conciliating language — and the harsh parts were
therefore softened, and the whole was made to
breathe a more gentle and benignant spirit.

IN this form it was submitted to the governor^
who appeared to feel unusual pleasure in its pe-
rusal, and it was proposed by R. Wormley that it
should be subscribed by all the members present,
with the view as he alledged of seeing his name
handed down to posterity, as the strenuous oppo-
ser of a licentious multitude, in support of good
order and government. The friends of liberty
were unable to protest against this measure, and
were obliged to content themselves with a solemn
determination to abjure in all places any agency in
this transaction.

MEANWHILE the alarm increased ; it was re-
ported that Henry at the head of a considerable
body, had arrived within a few miles of town — •
The mayor and common council met for the pur-
pose of considering what was most expedient at
ribis, and it was proposed that the mayor

VIRGINIA. 415

should endeavor to dissuade him from enter- CHAP.
ing the city.* The treasurer and colonel Nel- v*
son with several other distinguished characters
prepared at the same time to exert their utmost
interest to induce him to return and to avoid eve-
ry act which might render his country immedi-
ately the seat of war.

The house of colonel Corbin, the receiver ge-
neral of the King's custom, was exactly in the
route of Henry, and he halted at a short distance
from it to receive the Deputies from Williams-
burg. This pause gave room for the active inter-
position of moderate men ; and the receiver gene-
ral after long solicitation, having been prevailed
on to give a bill for the value of the powder, Henry
discharged the volunteers and proceeeded to Phi-
ladelphia.

IN the midst of these events, intelligence arriv-
ed of the battle of Lexington, originating in an at-
tempt of governor Gage, to destroy the arms and

* It may not be amiss to relate in this place a singular
address of lord Dunmore, to the mayor, who waited on him
with the decision of the common council. I will be damn-
ed, said he, if I were in your place, if I would not march out
the town volunteers, and tell Henry's men, that as the other
companies have been prevailed upon to stop, and as we are
satisfied about the affair of the powder, you must not and
shall not enter our town, which is now in peace and quietness ;
a short time before this, he swore in the presence of the coun-
cil, that if Henry approached the town, he would march out
and attack him, and that he would be damned if he would
not treat him as a rebel. He swore that Henry was the curs-
ed author of all the disturbances, and had long been labour-
ing to overturn the constitution ot this country, adding that
he was a coward, or he would have gone on wi.h the spea-
ker and Pendleton, to Philadelphia ; but that there was less
danger in marching against him, who was alone. This was
supp sfcd to allude to the plan for seizing the deputies to con-
gress, on their way to Philadelphia, planned by Dunmore.

416 HISTORY OF

CHAP, ammunition of the provincials, in the neighbor-
V. hood of Boston. A coincidence so striking, as
" such attempts almost at the same hour in the
North and South, could not fail to open the eyes
of the most incredulous advocates of moderati-
on ; and whilst the heroic valor of the northern
patriots animated the hope and courage of the
Virginians ; they in their turn sent back the ex-
ample of their magnanimous spirit, to cheer their
sufferings and confirm their resolutions. If they
had not like the people of New England, as yet
encountered the enemy in the field, they gained
their immediate object, by the terror excited by
their determined courage, nor were they animated
by any examples, save those, which were derived
from the courage of their ancestors. No concert
whatever existed between them and the other co-
lonies, and the affair of the powder was decided
before the battle of Lexington was ever talked of
in Virginia.

MEANWHILE the governor, uncertain of the is.
sue of the Williamsburg deputation, was haunted
by fears for his personal safety. He saw himself
surrounded by enemies, and he found no refuge
in the honor and integrity of his intentions. In
this exigence, he wrote privately to captain Mon-
t gue, of the Fowey man of war, then lying at
York, to send up at midnight a detachment of
marines and sailors to his assistance. Some sus-
picions had been excited before the march of this
d* tachment by the Magdalen, and another armed
tender having approached the beach : it was ap-
prehended they had taken this station for the pur-
pose of covering a debarkation of troops. But
notwithstanding the wakeful vigilance of the peo-
ple of York, th.; detachment had been landed and
commenced their march wiuiout suspicion of ihis
event. The secret was at length disclosed by a

VIRGINIA. 417

letter of captain Montague, addressed to president CHAP.
Nelson, in which he threatened to fire upon York _ v-
if the least interruption was offered to the de- "
tachment. This determination was stated to have
been taken in consequence of certain information,
that the palace was threatened with an attack at
day break. The president remonstrated in the
strongest terms against this insolent threat, equally
absurd and inhuman, inasmuch as the detach-
ment had commenced its march previous to the
receipt of his letter, and no opportunity was left
of using his good offices to prevent the effusion
of blood.

MEANWHILE the troops arrived at Porto Bel-
lo, a seat of the governor's on Queen's creek, Marines
before the people of Williamsburg had the slight march lo
est intimation of the project. The intelligence the Palace*
excited at once their surprize and indignation,
and captain Innes, who at this time commanded
the city volunteers, prepared to cut them off on
their march. At this juncture captain Foy, the
confidential secretary of Dunmore, went from
house to house, conjuring ever}' man he met to
abstain from violence, assuring all in the most
positive terms, that the detachment should not
enter the town, but that they should be conduct-
ed by a back way through the park to the pa-
lace ; that they came with no other view than to
protect lord Dunmore from the assault with which
he had been threatened, ai.d that they should be
removed the moment it appeared this apprehen-
sion was not well founded : Whilst the people
wavered, the detachment took up their quarters
in the palace.

THE news of this event, together with the
sanguinary threat of captain Montague, were re-
ceived throughout Virginia with feelings of the
3E

418

HISTORY OF

CHAP.
V

strongest indignation. Meetings took place in
every county, arid an unanimous resolution was
adopted, to repel force by force, and to retaliate
to the uttermost for any violence offered ihe
towns of York and V\ illiamsburg by the ships or
troops of his majesty. The people of Glouces-
ter in particular, who lay contiguous, assembled
to the number of 300, and came to a resolution
of attacking Dun more in his palace, and even of
boarding the ships if they dared to put the
threat of Montague in execution. This situa-
tion-of affairs, added to authentic accounts re-
ceived from all quarters of the desperate valour
of the people of New England, and the deter-
mined spirit breathed in addresses and resolutions
from one end to the other of America, convinced
lord Dunmore that a longer perseverance in the
measures complained oi would be attended with
great personal danger to himself, and of an im-
mediate dissolution of the royal government in
the province. Yet his positive instructions would
not permit him to relax, and his absurd pride
ii-ductd him to support the supremacy of par-
liament, and discountenance by every means
within his reach the bold but rational claims of
America. Some plan, however, must be imme-
diately adopted for appeasing the present discon-
tents. The strength of the government was irn-
potei-t ; its arm without brawn and unnerved.
Pie might rave in the council room and issue the
brute thunder of proclamations, but unsupported
by fleets and armies, his rage was regarded in no
other light than the phrenzj of a chained and im-
prisoned man.

IN this exigence a council was summoned, and
colonel William B}rd, who had hitherto taken
no ckcidtd part in ihe present dispute, ventured

VIRGINIA. 41

to advise the governor to issue writs fcr calling CHAP,
together the representatives of the people as the v-
only means of allaying the public discontent.
The governor declared emphatically, " that was
more than he dared to do." He could not at the
same time help, he added, feeling the greatest asto-
nishment at the inconsistency of those gentlemen
who some time since advised a dissolution of the
assembly, and who now press for its call. The
counsellors, he said, from the very nature of their
appointment, felt a natural dependence on the
crown, and they had always supposed themselves
to be bound by the king's instructions ; that the
power of calling assemblies together, of pro-
roguing and dissolving them, was plainly a
branch of the king's prerogative, which no one
can rightfully deny him; that the exercise of this
prerogative in the colonies was sometimes regu-
lated by the king's instructions, and in ordinary
cases was left to his deputy's discretion, assisted
by the advice of council ; that in the present in-
stance, his majesty himself had spoken, and that
the councillors were bound by every tie of ho-
nour, gratitude and duty, to give the greatest
weight and effect to his intentions. John Page
presumed to deny the governor's premises. ,' d
his conclusion. They had not advised the disso-
lution ; but he contended that even the admission
of this fact did not justly attach to the council the
charge of inconsistency. Though bound by the
king's instructions, it was their right and duty
to interpose their advice to prevent the adoption
of measures fatal to the crown and monarchy ;
that unless such right be supposed to exist in the
council, their office- was nugatory, and the for-
mality of consulting them a mere form and im-
pertinent ceremony, which could not too speedi-
ly be dispensed with. It was plain, he added,

420 HISTORY OF

CHAP, from English history, that a denial to the people
v- . ^ of a parliament for any considerable time, was
attended with the most fatal consequences, and
that to an ignorance or a denial of this principle,
the unhappy Charles was indebted for the loss of
his crown, the dispersion of his family, and his
own fatal and untimely end upon the scaffold. At
the mention of Charles the governor's face present-
ed a mingled character oi resentment and appre-
hension. Mr. Page concluded by stating, that if
the people were deprived of a legal and constitu-
tional representation, they would resort to con-
vention, a measure which in itself threatened
the subversion of all regular government.

THE colmcil at length unanimously concurred
in support of colonel Byrd's opinion, and the go-
vernor reluctantly consented to issue writs for an
election of burgesses, and what was of almost
equ.'l importance in quieting the public agitation,
he agreed to send back the detachment of marines
to the Fowey.

THIS measure operated like a charm on the
angry spirit of the people, and the waves which
had been blown into commotion in the conflict of
right and prerogative^ lor a moment subsided.
But this calm was not employed in a false secu-
rity and inactivity ; the people were silently pre-
paring against the arduous contest. Rewards
were offered for the best specimens of American
powder, and for the encouragement of various ma-
nufactures of primary necessity. Attention began
to be paid to the exercise and discipline of the mi-
litia, and that noble ardour which had been roused
in defence of liberty, was kept alive by the same
means by which it had been at first excited, the
closet speculations of ingenious men and the ve-
hemence of popular eloquence.

VIRGINIA; 421

MEANWHILE the day for the meeting of the CHAP,
assembly approached, and an anxiery proporti *

or:ed to the occasion was visible in the counte- ir/5.
nances ot the people and the governor. Reports
had gone abroad, founded on some passages in
intercepted letters, that the most conspicuous
leaders of the people were to be seized and sent
to Britain. It was whispered amongst the inha-
bitants of Williamsburg, that th > marines \vrre
once more on their march, and chut some plui
was in agitation to seize the members of assem-
bly. A notice appeared some time before in the
public journals, warning the deputies to come
prepared. This report was connected with a sus-
picion, that the depu ies to the last general con-
gress were to have been seized by parties of to-
ries, in consequence of which they were escort-
ed by parties ot horse over the heads of all the
rivers they had to pass. The governor in IKS
turn, affected to feel the greatest alarm for his
own safety.

IN the midst of these mutual jealousies and
apprehensions, the members of assembly began
to make their appearance, and no spectacle per- An assem.
haps ever was more striking and better calculated bj7.
to express the importance, the terror and the
sublimity of the crisis. The members had gene-
rally come from considerable distances ; they were
habittd in hunting shirts, the usual dress of
American hunters and warriors, and they were
generally armed with rifles. It was a melancholy
reflection to such as had not lost all sensibility, that
the representatives of a brave ana enlightened
community should thus as it were be compelled
to seek any other protection than the sacredness
of their own characters, and it told the mournful
secret, that all confidence and harmony between
the government and people were at an end in Vir-

422

HISTORY OF

CHAP.
V.

Flight of
governor.

ginia. These reflections were accompanied on
the part of the people, by sentiments of a proud-
er nature. Their representatives were in clanger ;
they were menaced wiih arrest and transportation ;
they had been marked out for their devotion to
the cause of American liberty. The sages and
fathers of the country, by taking arms for their
defence into the sanctuary of the laws, proclaim.
ed at once their apprehensions, together with
their resolution of perishing rather than submit
to personal _ violence or national dishonour, and
every heart solemnly pledged its blood for their
protection ; every arm was lifted for their de-
fence .

FAR different were the feelings of the gover-
nor ; his heart died within him at the account of
this extraordinary phce'iomenon, and he aban-
doned all hope of stemming the torrent of disaf-
fection, Every moment he expected to be as-
saulted in his palace and sacrificed to the rage of
an incensed people : The least noise alarmed him.
The representatives of the people in vain waited
for the customary communication to open their
sitting; in vain his councillors sought him in the
council chamber : The haughty deputy was no
where to be found. He had fled in the night, leav-
ing behind him that kind of stunted communica-
tion denominated a message, in which the king
and his deputies are used to state their wants and
their projects to the legislature.

NOTHING could exceed the surprize of the as-
sembl) at this rash and unadvised proceeding. The
council were equally unprepared and concerned
for this event ; but after the first agitation had sub-
th bnn h s re unv./d their deliberations,
and a joint address was immediately agreed on, to
be presented by deputies from each b<r!y to the go-

VIRGINIA. 421

yern or on board the Fowey. In this he was en- CHAP,
treated, as the most likely means of quieting the
minds of che people, to return to the palace, and
an assurance given that they will cheerfully concur
in any measure that may be proposed for the secu-
rity of him and his family. The answer of
Dunmore was full of haughty and unfounded re-
crimination. u When," say she, '* the disposition
which the house of burgesses have shewn to-
wards me, the returns they have made for the re-
spect and civility I have been forward to offer
them ; the countenance they have given to the
violent and disorderly proceedings of the people,
his majest) 's magazine having been forced and
rifled in presence of some of the members of the
house of burgesses, and by the information of
the committee the house appointed to inspect the
magazine, no other endeavours have been used
than to prevail en the people to return the arms
taken out, but not to commit the persons in whose
possession they were found, that they might be
brought to the punishment due to so heinous an
offence, no less against the peace and good order
of the country, than the dignity and authority
of the king : When a body of men assembled in
the city of Williamsburg, not only to the know-
ledge, but with the approbation of every body,
for the avowed purpose of attacking a party of the
king's troops; when especially the house of bur-
gesses, or a committee of the house, (which is
the same) has ventured on a step fraught with
the most alarming consequences, in oidering
and appointing guards without even consulting
me, to mount in the city of Williamsburg as is
pretended, to protect the magazine, but which
may be well doubted, as there then remained
nothing therein which required being guarded.
I say when these circumstances are duly coasi-

424 HISTORY OF

CHAP, dered, I may submit it to your own judgment
whether I could reasonably expect an}/ gocd ef-
fect from communicating the ground of my un-
easiness to you." This imprudent composition
was accompanied by papers containing the con-
ditions on which any of the colonies might be
admitted within the pale of the royal mercy, all
of which having been taken into consideration,
an answer was returned equally distinguished for
its temperate argument and the solemn resolution
it evinces. In reply to the governor's notifica-
tion, that a benevolent tender had been made to
the house of commons, towards bringing to a
good end their disputes with the mother country,
they say, <l Ne£t to the possession of liberty,
my lord, we should consider such a reconcilia-
tion the greatest ol all human blessings. With
these dispositions we entered into a consideration
of that resolution. We examined it minutely.
We viewed it in every point of light in which
wre were able to place it, and with pain and dis-
appointment we must ultimately declare it only
changes the form without lightening the burden
of oppression. We cannot, my lord, close with
the terms of that resolution." They then pro-
ceed to a detail of their reasons for their rejecting
the proffered charity : Reasons which, if aught
could convince the obstinacy of ministers, h.,d
not been without success on this occasion.

" THESE, my lord, (say they in the conclusion
of this admirable production) are our semi-
ments on this important subject, which we offer
only as an individual pa^t of the whole empire.
Final determination we leave to the general con-
gress now sitting, before whom we now shall lay
the papers your lordship has communicated to us.
To their witMjom we commit the improvement
of this important advance ; if it can be wrought

VIRGINIA. 425

into any good, we are assured they will do it. To CHAP.
them also we refer the discovery of that proper
method of representing our well founded griev-
ances, which your lordship assures us will meet
with the attention and regard so justly due to
thtm. For ourselves, we have exhausted every
mode of application our invention could suggest
as proper and promising. We have decently re-
monstrated with parliament ; they have added
new injuries to the old ; we have wearied our
king with supplications ; he has not deigned to
answer us ; we have appealed to the native ho-
nour and justice of the British nation ; their ef-
forts in our favour have hitherto been ineffectual.
What then remains to be done ? That we com-
mit our injuries to the even- handed justice of that
Being who doth no wrong; earnest!) beseeching
him to illuminate the counsels, and prosper the
endeavours of those to whom rim erica hath con-
fided her hopes, that through their wise direction
we may again see re-united the blessings of li-
berty and property, and the most permanent har-
mony with Great Britain."

BUT the principal subjects of legislative at-
tention remained yet unadjusted. ILtder the
pretext that the fees of officers could not be le-
gally taxed, unless the assembly would renew the
fee bill, the lawyers of the general court refused
to transact business, and cue courts of justice
were closed. This procedure had its rise in '.he
two fold wish, of procuring a meeting of assem-
bly, and during a crisis of great civil agiu.ioa
and embarrassment of guarding the people against
the operation of suits principally foreign, ano-
ther measure of acknowledged importance, was
the formation of a fund for defraying the charges
of the late expedition against the Indians, aud

2o HISTORY OF

CHAP, satisfying the arrears due to the brave men enf
gaged on that arduous service. Bills for both
tht&c purposes were passed without hesitation;
but on account of some preterded defect in the
fee bill, and the former alleged disallowance by
his majesty of ten per cent, on slaves provided
for the military charges, the governor objected
to both, and finally refused to exercise this es~
sential part of executive duty, unless the repre-
sentatives of the people repahed to York, where
they must legislate under the guns of British
ships of war. The other parts of his lordship's
conduct were equally oftcnsive. The application o;
the burgesses for a restoration of the powder was
refused, as well as their solicitation that the gur>s
should be removed from the palace to the maga-
zine.

THE governor's answer being taken up in a
committee of the whole house, to whom was rc:
ferred also the state of the colony, the following
resolutions were reported; which were unani-
mously agreed to.

44 Hesolved, nem. con. that his lordship's mes-
sage, requiring this house to attend him on board
of one his majesty's ships of war, is a high breach
of the rights and privileges of this house.

" Hesolved, nem. con. that the unreasonable
delays thrown into the proceedings of this house
by the governor, and. his evasive answers to the
sincere and decent addresses of the representa-
tives of the people, give us great reason to fear
that a dangerous attack may be meditated against
the unhappy people of this colony. It is there.
fore our opinion, that they prepare for the pre-
servation of their property, and their inestimable
rights and liberties, \\ 5th the greatest c;r:re and at
teution.

VIRGINIA,

-'* Resolved, nem. con. that we do, and will CHAP,
bear faith and true allegiance to our most graei

ous sovereign George III. our only hvvfui and 1775.
rightful king ; and that we will, at all times, to
the utmost of our power, and at the risk of our
lives and property, maintain and defend his go-
vernment in this colony, as founded on the esca-
blished laws and principles of the constitution.

" Resolved, nem. con. that it is our most ear-
nest desire to preserve and strengthen those bands
of amity with all our fellow subjects in Great Bri-
tain, which are so very essential to the prospe-
rity and happiness of both countries.

" Resolved, nem. con. that it is with the deep-
est concern we find ourselves deprived of an op-
portunity of making immediate provision for
those gallant officers and soldiers who so nobly
defended this country against the incursions of
the Indians, unless we would sacrifice their o-,vn
and the inestimable rights and privileges of all
other inhabitants of this colcfay ; that as we have
already endeavoured to make the most ample pro-
vision for this necessary purpose, so will we
gladly seize every opportunity afforded us of do-
ing the utmost justice to those brave men, and
ail other public creditors."

THE correspondence between the governor
and assembly had now closed for ever, and it be-
came necessary to resort to other means f >r giving
effect to the important measures, which had been
already sanctioned by that body. In this emer-
gence, all eyes were directed to the council, whose
president, in the event of the death or absence
of the governor, was vested with all the attri-
butes of executive power. It was represented
th-.it the office of governor was at present vacant,
by the voluntary abdication of lord Dunmcre,
ind that the president might rightfully e:i'cr »r>

42& HISTORY OF

on the discharge of its proper and most essential
duties. This reasoning, so conformable to the
piinciples of sound policy and good sense, was
resorted to at first with caution, and after some
affectation of scruple, so anxious were the peo-
ple of this colony to justify themselves by a close
adheienre to constitutional forms. But ihis coy-
ness soon yielded to a consciousness of right and
the necessity of circumstances. The treasurer,
a man of gentle manners, hut of decided patri-
otism, had declared himself ready to disburse
any part of the public monies in his hands, when
culled on by the existing authority ; and the coun-
cil at length, after a faint struggle on the part of
the governor's friends, assented to a principle
alike called for by its justice and the wishes of
die people.

OTHFR circumstances of a nature equally im-
portant, yet remained unadjusted. The Shawa-
nese hostages had disappeared at the time of the
governor's flight, and from some depositions
taken before the assembly, there was but too
much reason to apprehend that they were set at
large with a view, by their agency, of stimulat-
ing the formidable confederacy of the Shawanese
and their allies to war against Virginia. It ap-
peared that the governor had neither ratified the
treaty nor given up the hostages. In this emer-
gence it was ordered that George Washington,
Thomas Walker, James Wood, Andrew Lewis,
John Walker and Adam Stephen, or any three
cf them, be commissioners to ratify the treaty,
and that Robert Carter Nicholas be directed to
pay the charges of the commission. The assem-
bly, after discharging these important duties,
adjourned themselves.

SOON as the negotiation had ceased between
lord Dunmore and the assembly, he proceeded

VIRGINIA. 429

down the river in the Fowey, and prepared to CHAP,
collect a force sufficient at least to check the pro- v- ^
gress of insurrection, until an army should arrive
from Europe. With this view he issued his pro. Loivl
clamation, commanding all subjects on their alle-
giance to repair to his standard ; and not content
with this, he offered freedom to the slaves who
should join his standard. He was not without hope
that this measure would involve the people in ; n
insurrection with this mutinous and unfortunate
race, to extricate themselves from whose horrors,
they would be ghd to solicit his return; or if
this should fail, tuey might be attacked with
greater advantage b\ the ro} al troops. These mea-
sures of Dunmore only served to heighten their
contempt and indignation against him, and to
confirm their resolution. Volunteer companies,
which poured into Willb.msburg from every
quarter after the flight of i) an more, solicited to
be employed against him ; and the counties at
their public meetings, expressed their wishes
that a regular permanent force should be embodi-
ed, for the purpose of repelling at all points the
enemies of American liberty.

MEANWHILE the convention met at Rich-
rnond, and proceeded immediately to the orgaui-
z tiion of a provisional government. It was ob- jujy
vious that the public enthusiasm required a re-
gular concert, to guard against the vigilance of
the enemy, and to preserve the tranquifity of the
eotmtry, and the legislature was too numerous
to apply a remedy with sufficient secrecy and
dispatch. It was resolved that every thing relat-
ing to the public safety vriihin the state and the
jurisdiction of her waters, should be entrusted
to a committee consisting of eleven members.

THE members of this committee were Eel-
mund Pendieton, George Mason, John Page,

430 HISTORY

CHAP. Richard Bland, Thomas Ludwell Lee, Paul Car>
__j rington, Dudley Digges, James Mercer, Cartel
" Braxton, William Cahell, and John Tabb. They
were chosen by ballot of the convention, and
were to remain in office until they were supersed-
ed by the voice of the convention.

THE defence of the colony demanded their
Organize a immediaie and pointed attention, and it vvis not
military thought proper to leave wholly to the discretion
force. of a committee what had ever been provided for
by the legislature. Two regiments ot regulars
were voted for one year, and it was determined
that a portion of the militia should encamp by
regiments for a certain number of days in the
spring and autumn, for the purpose of perfecting
themselves in the military exercises. This class
was denominated minute men, from their condi-
tions of enlistment to march at a minute's warn-
ing to any part of the colony for its defence.

MEANWHILE the Virginia committee of safety
convened at tianover town, and immediately en-
tered upon the arduous duties assigned them.
Numbers of citizens, elected by their companies,
attended from all quarters, for the purpose of
procuring their commissions.

IT became necessary also to appoint a commis-
sary oi provisions, and another of stores, in or-
der that depots should be immediately formed,
adequate to the pressing wants of the army.
This was justly regarded as an object of primary
importance, and on inattention to it in providing
for the exigencies of the continental army was at-
tended with the most serious inconvenience. Soon
as this business had been dispatched, the com-
mittee turned their eyes to the situation of Nor-
folk, where it was apprehended the principal ef-
forts of Dunmore would be directed. Captain
* ; . of the Norfolk vokmteerS was sent down

VIRGINIA. 431

express to the committee of his county, with di-
rections to them to collect and mount all the can-
non they could procure ; they were desired at the
same time to transmit an exact account of the si-
tuation of affairs in their neighbourhood, in order
that a body of troops if necessary might be sent
to their assistance. The committee after this
adjourned to Williamsburg.

IN the mean time the inhabitants of Hampton People of
applied for assistance to defend them against an Hampton

attack threatened by Dunmore, in revenue for s?licitas"
, i • i T T • sistance,

two schooners which had ocen burnt by two en-

terprising young men, of the name of Barron.
These men, afterwards distinguished for their
courage and success in maritime adventure
against the British, commanded at this time two
pilot boats, a species of vessel constructed
chiefly with an attention to sailing, and kept the
fleet of Dunmore constantly on the alert by the ra-
pidity of their movements. If pursued, by keep-
ing close in with the shore, they took refuge in
Hampton.

THE force of Dunmore consisted at this time,
according to the best information, of the Mer-
cury of 24 guns, the Otter of 14, and the King's
Fisher of 16; two companies of the 1 4th regi-
ment, just arrived from the West Indies, where
they had been trained to hunt the Caribbs, about
one hundred negroes, and from twenty to thirty
tory volunteers. He had in addition to this fitted
out two large ships, which he had seized, be-
longing to Virginia merchants, in which he had
embarked his servants and effects. The men of
war had fitted out seven tenders, mounted with
cannon.

IT was obvious that the people of Hampton
had no means adequate to a defence against such
ft force, and it was equally obvious that on every

HISTORY Ol<

CHAP, principle they were entitled to protection. Yet
_ there existed in the committee a difference of
opinion respecting the policy of defending any
part of the lower country. It was even proposed
to withdraw the inhabitants, and make waste
every thing before an invader. But the argu-
ments by which this extraordinary proposal was
supported, were exposed in their true colours by
John Page, with the same unceremonious bold-
ness which so honourably distinguished his op.
position to the royal council. He told them,
that if the people of the lower country, notwith-
standing their known attachment to the cause of
liberty, were denied the aid to which they were
entitled in their distresses, they would make a
common cause with the invader, and abandon a,
people, who had neither courage nor humanity to
protect them. But independent of the mischief
it would cause, by alienating the affections of so
valuable a class of our citizens, it would be pro-
ductive, he said, of a more serious and vital in-
jury. The peaceable possession of the lower
country and of the waters, would sooner or later
draw alter it the possession of the rest. The
enemy would have time to strengthen themselves
until an army should arrive irom Britain, and
possessing all the channels of trade, added to the
means of defence and the power of extending
protection to its partisans, who will answer for
the constancy of the people, in the midst of dif-
ficulties, dangers and privations of every kind.
IT should be told, however, that the project
for abandoning the lower country had its rise in
the most generous devotion to the cause of li-
berty, and was adopted by men who had formed
tilt magnanimous determination of penetrating the
wilderness in the event of their efforts proving un-
successful, with the wreck of the nation, and of

VIRGINIA, 43J

preserving the American name for better times, CHAP.
and more prosperous fortunes. Such was the _ v-
project of Bacon, exactly a century before ; and "
it is for the honour of our nature that in every 1775»
state there existed crouds who would, have deli-
berately resigned the various enjoyments arising
from commerce, and retired with liberty to the
howling wilderness.

THE arguments of Page had weight with a
majority of the committee, notwithstanding some
expressions thrown out by him, regarded as per-
sonally offensive; ai;d son^e of the new raistd regu-
lars having arrived, captain Nicholas of the 2d
regiment, and captain Lyne of the King and
Queen minute men, were sent down to relieve
the volunteers, whose time of service had ex-
pired. But it was now considered on all hands,
that in the first encounter with the British, some-
thing worthy of the American character should
be atchieved, \\hichlike the battle of Lexington
would act as an example, and inspire the enemy
with apprehension and respect. Col. Wood ford
was sent down with one hundred mounted i ifle-
men of theCulpeper battalion, without any other
incumbrance than their provisions and blankets.

BUT before the arrival of Wood ford, captain
Squires, with six tenders full of men, appeared 24th Q
in Hampton creek, and commenced an attack on
the town. He imagined that thj^rnere display of
his squadron would have paralised the courage
of the new raised troops, and that no resistance
would have been attempted. Ur.der this impres-
sion, the boats under cover of a fierce cannonade,
rowed towards the shore for the purpose of set-
ting fire to the houses, and carrying off whate-
ver property should be spared from the confla-
gration. A few moments disclosed the
3G

434

HISTORY OF

CHAP,

25th Oct.

British at-

of these expectations. A shower of bullets soo&
compelled the boats to return to the ships, while
the riflemen disposed in the houses and the bush-
es along the beach, proved that even the tenders
were not secure against their fatal precision. —
Checked by a resistance so fierce and unexpect-
ed, the tenders hauled farther into the stream^
and further operations were suspended until a re-
inforcement, which was hourly expected, would
render an assault more certain and decisive.

MEANWHILE Woodlord ,\vho had used the most
extraordinary expedition,* arrived at dc-:y break
with his riflemen, and as it was certainly known
that the enemy would renew the attack, a nev/
disposition was made of the American troops.
1 he enemy's fleet had spread themselves with the
view of dividing the force of tht Americans, and
though it was intended perhaps only as a diver-
sion, it was not improbable that an attempt would
be made to land troops at a considerable distance
in the rear of the Americans. To guard against
this, Woodfoid disposed the minutt men with a
part of the militia in his rear, the remainder of
the militia was distributed at different points on
the creek to act as parties of .observation, accord-
ing to circumstances, whilst he himself took
post with the riflemen in the houses, and every
other low and covered position that presented it-
self on the be<«cr>.

sun- rise the enerm >s fleet was seen stand-

ton.

tuck Ham p- ing in loi -he shore, and having at length reached
a convenient position, they lay with springs on
their cables, aid commenced a furious cannon-
ade. Double heiidtd and chain shot, and grape,

* Edmund Petidleton, president of the committee of
safety, received the- le 'er at 12 o'clock at night* and there-
tnfoicement reached Hampton at aim-rise.

VIRGINIA. 435

flew in showers through art parts of the town, CHAP,
and as the position of the ships enabled them to ^ •
enfilade, it was thought impossible to defend it
even for a few mimres. Nothing could exceed
the cool and sceady valour of the Virginians ; and
alcho' with very lewex'ieptions wli >iiy unacquaint-
ed with military service, they displayed the coun-
tenance and collection of veterans. Woodford's
commands to his riflemen, previous to the can-
nonade, were simply to fire with coolness and de-
cision, and observe the profou rides t silence. —
The effects of this advice were soon visible ; the
riflemen answered the cannonade by a well di-
rected fire against every part of the line, and it
soon appeared tiiat no part of the ship was secure
against their astonishing precision. In a short
time the enemy appeared to be in some confu-
sion ; their cannonade gradually slackened, and
a signal was given by the commander to slip their
cables and retire. But even this was attended Are rf*
with the most imminent danger. No man could pu
stand at the helm in safety ; if the men went aloft
to hand the sails, they were immediately singled
out. In this condition two of the schooners
drifted to the shore. The commander of one of
these in vain called on his men to assist in keep-
ing her off; they had all retired to the hold,
and declared their utter refusal to expose them-
selves to inevitable destruction. In this exigen-
cy, deserted by his men, he jumped into tne
water and escaped to the opposite shore. The
rest of the fleet had been fortunate enough to
escape, although with some difficulty, and re-
turned to Norfolk,*

The inhabitants had^sunk fiv^ sloops be lore tue uavn.

HISTORY OF

THE result of this first encounter afforded a
ground of rational triumph to the people of Vlr-
g ni i, and was attended with the most beneficial
tiled s on their future optraiions. Notwith-
standing their determination to conquer, or pe-
rish in tti£ just and necessary contest in which
they had been compelled to engage, they had hi-
tl»t i-o unaided viih respect and apprehension
the power of the mother country. They hoped
iiidtxd hat the justice of their cause and the en-
thiibiahm of iibei ty would furnish a counterpoise
to ihc discipln e and resources of their enemies,
but this had hitherto been a bare hope, adopted
with some caution and unsupported by any expe-
riment. They had now made a trial of their
strength ; they had witnessed the effect of can-
non and ships without any material loss, and
scarcely with any apprehension : With very in-
ftiior means they had beaten their enemies, and
C( mpelltd them to retreat with a considerable
loss a rd dishonour,

IT disclosed this secret of the utmost conse-
quence, and which was wholly unexpected. The
navy of Britain had inspired them with the just-
est alarm, and it was apprehended that their own
palpable deficiency in ships and cannon, and mi-
litary tactics, would render more disproportion-
ate these enormous advantages on the part of the
enemy ; but the superior skill and decision of
her riflemen were discovered to be a counter-
poise ; and the courses of the channels of their
rivers, by compelling ships of war often to ap-
proach within rifle- shot of the shores, held out
the hope that the enemy could not with any cer-
tainty even hold the dominion of the v/aters.

MEANWHILE Dunmore having by force
and corruption collected a body sufficient for
active measures, penetrated in person Prin-

VIRGINIA, 437

cess Ann county, for the purpose of destroying CHAP,
some cannon belonging to the colony. ifitelU- v<
gence of this having been conveyed to lieutenant
colonel Hutchins, the county commandant, he
formed the b'.ld resolution of ambushing a nar-
row path of the road through which the royalists
must pass, and sail} ing out upon them in the
midst of their confusion. Nothing, was wanting
to ensure success to this project but coolness and
collection, qualities but rarely to be met with in
raw troops. The militia were disposed by Hut-
chins judiciously in ambush, and Dunmore had
already entered the defile in the confidence of a
full security, when without waiting the signal,
alarmed perhaps at the boldness and novelty of
their situation, they broke from their conceal-
ment, and after a single ineffectual discharge,
fled with precipitation. Nothing could exceed
the surprise and panic of the royalists at the first
sight of the Americans ; they huddled together
in the utmost disorder, and falling back on the
main body, the entrance of the defile was choak-
ed by a confused multitude, unfitted equally for
fighting or retiring. The two companies of re-
gulars alone exhibited any thing like a disposi-
tion to make a stand. On the first alarm they
were hastily formed in a square, with Dunmore
in the centre, but the contagion had reached them
and their leader, and it was strong!} believed at
the time, that a single fire made with coolness
and decision would have completed the route of
the whole body.

THE impatience of the Virginians, and after-
wards their unaccountable panic, prevented their
taking advantage of this disorder, and although
but a single man was killed, arid not more tl;
seven were taken prisoners, it had for a n
a tendency to lessen the confidence oi the peo-

438 HISTORY OF

CHAP, pie, excited their mortification, whilst it raised
v- the hopes and presumption of the enemy. Colonel
Hutchins was amongst the number of the prL
soners.

THE confidence of Dunmore was raised by
this partial success, and the disaffected flocked
to his standard, stimulated by the hope of pil-
lage and the promise of confiscation. They in
general consisted of Scotch and English mer-
chants and factors, and a small part oi the Prin-
cess Ann and Norfolk militia, whom he had com-
pelled to attend him in arms, and a party of fu-
gitive slaves whom he had seduced or torn from
thtir masters. With this frrce, amounting in ihe
whole to something more than two thousand, he
thought himself in a condition to attempt some-
thing, and having heard that a detachment of
regulars and minute men were on their march to
attack him, he took a strong position at the Great
Bridge, on the north side of Elizabeth river, di-
rectly in the route of the colonial troops. At
this plnce he erected a fort on an island surround-
ed by a marsh, and having communication only
on the north and south by a long cause way.

HERE major Leslie took post with about one
hundred regulars of the 14th regiment, while
the tories and slaves were stationed in advance,
on a kind of highland formed by the river, under
the sheker of a few old houses.

ME A N w KILE the committee of safety havingre-
ceivttl information that Dunmore was strengthen-
sen™ m ' ™Z himself at Norfolk by daily accessions, and
Wood ford juc*8"?g tni*t they would be justly reproached if
to Great a handful of banditti were permitted to keep pos-
session of the largest town in the province, and
give law to a considerable part of the lower coun-
try, dispatched colonrel Wood ford with the -2d
regiment, and a party of minute and riflemen, to

VIRGINIA. 439

uislodge them. They were directed to use the
greatest expedition, but b\ an express from co-
lonel Wood ford of the next day, he was still at
Cobham. He alleged as the cause of this delay,
that the waggon horses, owing to the poverty of that
part of the country, had been turned out to feed,
that they had stra} ed in the night, and had not
Seen collected at the date of the express. He men-
tions some other particulars deserving notice,
that according to information which might be re-
Ikd on. lord Dunmore would be at Suffolk on
that day for the purpose of destroying the forage
and provisions, of publishing his proclamation
and receiving the submission of the people, and
that in conformity with an unanimous decision of
a council of war, he had dispatched lieutenant co
lonel Scott and major Marshall with two hundred
and fifteen light troops, one hundred and three
of which were good riflemen, to make a forced
march, with no other incumbrance than their
blankets, for the purpose of cutting him off. He
was urgent in his in treaties for a reinforcement of
at least one hundred, and a supply of cartouch
boxes, bullet moulds and muskets for the volun-
teers, who were hourly flocking to his standard.
THIS express was received by colonel Chris,
tian, who commanded in Williamsburg during
the absence of colonel Henry, and the measures
of the committee to supply the wants of the ar-
my were prompt and vigorous. The supplies
demanded were sent with the utmost expedition,
and by the advice of a member of the committee,
colonel Bullet, who had been in all the actions
with colonel Washington, and had been praised
by governor Fauquier for conducting the cele-
brated retreat at Loyal Hanning, was sent down
to assist by his advice and experience.

440 HISTORY OF

CHAP. EVERY moment was now interesting, and the
v- public anxiety kept pace with the rapid succes-
sion of events. The detachment under Marshall
and Scott arrived at Suffolk on the evening ; but
the enemy had retired, and they continued their
march with the same expedition till they arrived
within seven miles of the Great Bridge, where
they surprised a number of tories. Woodford,
with the main body of the army and the baggage,
followed close in his rear ; on the 25th he reach-
ed Suffolk, where he was joined by forty gentle-
men volunteers on horseback. He stated his
confidence in the courage and temper of the
troops.

MEANWHILE Scott had seized all the boats on
the river, and manifested a disposition to cross
it and attack the enemy on both sides at the same
time. Some measures had been already taken,
seemingly for the purpose of carrying this plan
into execution.

Two companies of regulars and one of volun-
teers were dispatched under major Spotswood, to
keep open the communication between them,
whilst the enemy were htld in suspense by vari-
ous movements calculated to divide and distract
their attention. Parties well acquainted with the
Country were sent to surprise and disarm the in-
habitants who had taken the oaths prescribed by

* Dunmore; in one of these excursions colonel

Wills disarmed two companies, and took their
officers prisoners.

MEANWHILE colonel Woodford arrived with
the main body, and a facine battery was imme-
diately commenced, under the direction of colo-
nel Bullet. But they were obliged to wait for
the arrival of the troops from North Carolina,
who according to information received from their
committee, were on their march before even

VIRGINIA,

1775.
9th Dec,

this small work could be mounted with cannon.
The enemy fired incessantly, but with little ef-
fect, having only killed tv\ o men and wounded
one, from the first to the ninth.

BUT this interval was not entirely unemployed
by Woodford, The enemy had a small fort low-
er down on the banks of the river, to watch the
motions of the provincials, and check their in-
cursions into the country from whence they
derived their forage and supplies. It was prin-
cipally manned by tories and negroes, and
was a considerable obstruction to the operations
of the Virginians against the works on the cause-
way. It was resolvtd to attempt it by surprise,
and if necessary even by storm; and Taliaferro's
and Nicholas's companies, under the command
of col. Stephens, were landc-d at some distance be-
low the smaller iort, about day - break. The cen-
tinels having given the alarm, a hot fire of grape
and nuuquetry opened on the detachment, but
they had already approached too near, and a signal
being given for the assault, in a moment they
were masters of the fort, which was abandoned
with precipitation Only two negroes were killed
and two taken, on whom were found gashed and
cut balls, a sav age practice which marked the
inhuman spirit of the enemy. Not, a nun cf
the detachment, was either killed or wounded,
and a warm eulogium was passed by the com-
mander on the gallantry of the troops, and the
heroic behaviour of lieutenant Tibbs and captain
Nicholas, who were the first to enter the fort
sword in* hand.

ON the morning of the ninth colonel Bullet, En«my at
who was stationed on a line with a id co the lef of seen Pass"
the breastwork, discovered the e iemy7 in motion
and laying down the planks on the Dndge. He

HISTORY Ofr

CHAP.
V.

called out to lieutenant Travis, who commanded
capt. IV;eade's con par) at the breastwork, that the
enemy were advancing, and sent a messenger to
colonel Woodford to the same effect. Atter this
he repaired to the breast work. The troops at
this place, beside the ordinary guard of twenty,
five men, consisted of forty of Meade's compa-
ny, to these he addtd forty of the Augusta rifle-
men; another party of riflemen were dispobed
behind the houses in the street : The main body
was stationed near the church in the street at four
hundred yards distance.

THE provincial centinels were at length driven,
after having displayed considerable courage and
fired several rounds ; and the enemy were seen pas-
sing from the island to the cause -way at about one
hundred and seventy yards distance, when a gall-
ing fire commenced from the breast work. They
continued notwithstanding to advance, and the
commander was conspicuous in the van, animat-
ing his men and exhorting them to advance in the
midst of a most destructive fire : He had now
ai rived within forty five yards of the breast work,
and was waving his hat as an assurance of victo-
ry to his followers, when a ball struck him in the
knee and he stumbled and fell ; but afraid of dis-
couraging his troops, he brushed his knee lightly
with his hand, as if his fall had been merely ac-
cidental, and continued to advance, Bullet.,
whose advice operated like a law amongst the
soldiers, and who had inspired them with his own
unconquerable spirit, directed that the riflemen
should all discharge and reload* He pointed out
to them the gallant leader of the enemy, and told
mindcr'is tnern to keep tne^r eyes on him. The words had
tolled. been scarcely uttered when fourteen bullets pierc^
ed the body of the gallant Fordyce, the British
commander, and the detachment was thrown into

The Bri-
tish com

VIRGINIA. 443

irretrievable disorder. They had penetrated to CHAP,
within fiiteeri yards of the breast work with _ v
charged bayonets, and firing in platoons in the "
priming position, when the last dreadful volley
struck the line. Their commander was dead,
their second in command was mortally wounded ; Britiih are
lieutenant Batut was wounded in the leg and was repuUcd.
on the ground ; in this forlorn situation no attempt
was made to rally them, and they retreated preci-
pitately back towards the fort.

JUST as the retreat commenced, colonel Wood-
ford arrived, and directed a pursuit of the ene-
my, who were rallied by captain Leslie, at the
entrance of the island. Two pieces of cannon,
which during the engagement had played on the
breast work, now opened on the column led by
Woodford. Their principal force was now con.
centrated on the island ; the provincials had not a
single cannon, and the distance was too great for
the riflemen to act with any advantage ; a blaze of
fire was kept up from the artillery and musquetry
of the enemy, and it was considered madness to
hazard the honour and ad vantage which had been
gained by an assault on the works. Bullet indeed
strongly urged the propriety of such a measure,
but his advice, although backed by the enthusi-
asm of the troops, was over- ruled by the caution
of Woodford.

MEANWHILE it was determined to drive the
enemy if possible from the island, a project ap-
parently of great difficulty and danger. There
was a point of land seventy yards nearer it than the
breast work ; but the party attempting to gain this
post would be exposed during the whole way to
the cannon of the enemy. It was notwithstand-
ing determined to gain it at all hazards, and colo-
nel Stephens, who had already signalised -himself
on several occasions, was appointed to this ser-

[U HISTORY OF

CHAP. vice. He proceeded with one hundred
v chit fly riflenu n, gamed the point without sus-
taining auy 1 >ss, and took shelter to the right
of the enemy behind the houses on the point.

THIS movement decided the fortune of the
<dav. Not an object on the island could escape
th fatal pm isiou of the marksmen under Ste-
phens, and af.er a faint struggle they fled promis-
cuously, toiies and negroes, leaving behind the
two pieces of c.-nnon, beside several dead and
wom c'ed on the- ground.

THE advice oi Bullet for an immediate assault.,
was again renewed with dl the ardour and vehe-
menv e that distinguished his character. It was
uiged that the flower of the garrison was annihi-
lated on the bridge, and that all its out- posts
were driven in ; that it was defended only by ne-
groes and tories, who had neither the courage
nor force to resist the enthusiasm and valour of
the provincial troops : But Woodfbrd was fixed
immovably in his resolution of leaving nothing
to hazard. He apprehended an ambuscade, and
was unwilling to risk the reputation he had al-
ready acquired, by any rash and unadvised pro.
ject. It was reported that a considerable body
of Highlanders were on their march to reinforce
the garrison, and the retreat of the enemy from
the island might have been only a feint to draw
him from his position.

THE loss of the British in this short but well
contested action, was severe beyond any previous
example. Every officer was either killed or
wounded : But eleven of the privates escaped,
and it is affirmed that every one of the survivors
was wounded. Captain Leslie, the brother of
the commander, had just strength to reach the
fort, and immediately fell dead in his brother's

VIRGINIA. 445

arms. Lieutenant Batut was wounded in the CHAP.
leg and taken prisoner. v-

NOTHING, could exceed the tenderness of the
Americans towards their wounded prisoners ; and
in celebrating the last obsequies of the gallant
Fordyce, they evinced a nice attention to the
punctilious formalities of military etiquette accom-
panied with those feelings which do honour to
human nature. Whilst bending over the grave
of the gallant Fordyce, they rested on their arms
reversed, and the tear involuntarily started in their
eyes for the fate of this victim of war.

THIS generous humanity drew from the com-
mander of the fort a polite and affecting billet, in
which after expressing his sorrow for the fate of
Fordyce, he thanks Woodford for his attention
to the usages of war and the feelings of human-
ity.

THIS affair afforded the Virginians another
evidence of their ability to contend with their
enemies. The English were superior in numbers,
amounting to at least one hundred and thirty re-
gulars : The force of the Americans actually en-
gaged at the breast work, did not exceed oie
hundred, and these wholly unacquainted with
service. It is another singular fact, that whilst
almost every British regular was either killed or
wounded, not a man was lost by the Virginians,
and only one was slightly wounded.

IM M E D i A T E L Y after the action Woodford sent
an officer to the fort, proposing a truce, until they
had buried their de.id, which was gladly accept-
ed. But though the firing hid ceased the Ame-
ricans remained imder ar:rr>, in expectation of
another attack. Tiie reported arrival of a consi-
derable body of Highlanders suggested the pro-
bability of a strong and immediate reinforcement.
This report originating in misconception in all

44o HISTORY Ofe

probability, saved the remains of the British foreto
For had the Americans pushed on according
to the advice of Bullet, the fort would have op-
posed a delay only of a few minutes : They might
have surprized the governor and tories in Nor-
folk , and for the present have extinguished the war
in Virginia. A body of riighland emigrants had
actually arrived, consisting of men, women and
children, in the last stage of distress, for the
purpose of forming a settlement ; but they had
no disposition to tngage in hostilities, and they
were wholly ignorant of military service. They
were notwithstanding impressed by lord Dun-
more.

THIS report, however, was not whol'y with-
out its benefit. At the pressing solicitations of
of Woodford the army was reinforced by five
companies of the 1st regiment, two four pound-
ers, beside a considerable supply of ammunition.

MORNING disclosed the evacuation of the
fort, and the precipitate flight of the enemy. — -
Leslie, an experienced officer, seeing no pros-
pect of the promised reinforcement, and appre-
hensive of an assault, the success of which in the
wretched condition of his troops could not be
doubted, transported his wounded in carts, which
he had impressed immediately after his defeat,
down to the river and passed over in boats to
Norfolk.

NOTHING could exceed the surprise and agita-
tion of Dunmore on receiving information of
this disaster, and the tories and misguided men
who had subscribed, many of them no doubt
unwillingly, his test, were inspired with the just-
est apprehensions. Norfolk, lately the scene of
of insolent boast and presumptuous folly, exhi-
bited an appearance of shame, confusion and
dismay, which never had been exceeded. Thr«*.

VIRGINIA. 447

*ut the day men and even women were seen trans-
porting merchandise, household furniture, every
thing in fact that was valuable, to the water to
be lodged for safety on board the fleet, where 77S'
they themselves were speedily to follow. Dun-
more himself set the example of flight, by re- RoyaijstB
tiring on board his own ship. He was followed go onboard
by a melancholy train of wretched fugitives of the fleet,
both sexes, and of all colours, who without any
distinction crouded into boats, wbich were kept
constantly engaged in this service. The ships
of war drawn up before the town, covered the de-
barkation, as if the Americans were actually at
hand. But notwithstanding these precautions, seve-
ral of the obnoxious characters were compelled
for the want of room and provisions to submit to
the mercy of the conquerors.

WOODFORD was yet at the Great Bridge so
late as the llth, waiting for the return of his
waggons, which had been dispatched to Smith- .
field for provisions. He sent, however, lieute-
nant colonel Stephens in advance to Kemps with
six companies, and having received the expected
supplies, he followed with the army to Norfolk.
He had been joined subsequent to the action by
colonel Howe of the 2d North Carolina regiment,
with three hundred and fifty eight men, who as
senior officer, now commanded in chief.

MEANWHILE Dunmore had sent lieutenant
Wallace of the 14th regiment, with a flag of
truce, accompanied by Blair, a Scotch merchant,
who commanded a company of slaves, to nego-
ciate an exchange of prisoners. Woodford re-
plied that he should apply to the convention for
instructions on this head, but that he would not
suspend his operations. The president had al-
ready instructed him to propose an exchange,
but he had not received the letter, and when it

HISTORY OF

CHAP, reached him he supposed it came from the com-
V- _ mittee of safety instead of the president of the
"convention, by whose directions he imagined he
was to be regulated.

THE army was received at Norfolk by the pa-
Americtns triots with transports oi admiration and gratitude 5
enter N«r- by the remaining tories with the most abjtct sub-
folk, mission and supplication. Addresses poured in
from all quarters, expressive of gratitude for
their deliverance from insult and oppression, or
soliciting forgiveness for errors which were as-
cribed to violence or infatuation. Amongst
the rest the Highland emigrants) abandoned by
Dunmore and reduced to the extremity of want
and wretchedness, presented a petition in which,
disavowing all agency or interest in the present
disputes, they attribute their involuntary fau.t to
the violence of Dunmore, and appealed to the well
known humanity and liberality of the American
character.

THE public sympathy was excited, notwith-
standing the anxiety and x agitation ,pf the public
mind, in favour of these wretched suppliants,
who with their wives and children were lite rally
starving in the streets. They were clothed and
fed at the public expense, and were enabled to
prosecute their journey to Cape Fear in Ncrth
Carolina, the place of tiieir original dcs ination.
MORE than twenty pieces of cannon were
found dismounted and spiked on the unfinished
works. Had Woodford nu'.rched immediately'
after the action, thtj \umlcl have been found in a
serviceable state ; ior such vas tht Umr c,l L un-
more, that he forgot to spike thtm lor two whole
days after his debarkation. The river was full
of vessels with the effects of the luginve tories,
all ot which too but for this delay, had fallen in-
to the hands of the victors.

VIRGINIA. 449

ON the arrival of the patriot army, the Otter CHAP,
and King's Fisher with their tenders, consisting _ v>
of two schooners and four sloops, together with "
the Kilbeck and William, lord Dunftiore's ships, 1775*
were drawn up with their broadsides before the
town : But the American marksmen having ta-
ken post near enough to pick out their officers,
when directed by their commanders, they fell
down the river to the new distillery. They had
previously solicited a supply of wood and water
from Howe and Woodford, which was peremp-
torily refused.

A LARGE brig loaded with salt which had
been captured by the men of war, was order-
ed to fall down the river along with the squa-
dron ; but in attempting to execute these orders,
she was brought to by the marksmen, a rd com-
pelled to lie along side the wharf ; and a b&rg-e dis-
patched by the men of war to tske her off, \\ as
compelled to rethe \vi h the loss of several men.
After this Squires sent a flag of tru< e to demand
her as his prize; he- was answered that she w: s
now a prize to the Americans, and that she could
not he restored.

IT was expected that this refusal wouM b ve
brought on a cannoni.de from the ships : But on-
ly a few cannon shot were fired at the town,
which did no i; ju-y and were perhaps only in.
tended to impress the Americans with a convic-
tion of their means of destruction whenever it
was thought necessary to exert them.

THE American riflemen had been hitherto >e-
strained from firing on the ships, and things h. d
remained in a kind of fo«. c< d and gloomv sus-
pense, until the arrival of the Liverpool frigate
and a store ship, with a full compliment of nun,
when the whole fleet weighed anchor, and moor=.
31

450

HISTORY OF

GHAP.
V.

•MMI

1775,

British

cannonade

Noriolk.

ed in line of battle before the 4own with springs
on their cables. In this position they remained
until the 25th, when a requisition for a supply of
provision was made by captain Bellew of the Li-
verpool. Howe declared himself unauthorised to
grant this indulgence without special instructions
from the convention, whose opinions he should gain
by the return of an express : But this answer not
being considered satisfactory, at three o'clock
P. M. the ships and tenders opened a tremen-
dous cannonade on the town with double headed,
bar, chain and grape shot, according to the dis-
tance of objects, and when it was hoped that the
dreadful effects of this fire had spread confusion
and panic among the patriots, they landed under
cover of a thick smoke, and set fire to different
houses in several quarters along the river. The
\vii«d was favourable to this project, and the
flan.es spread with the most awful rapidity, in-
volving in smoke and ashes the American troops,
and prevented any view of the operations and de-
signs of the enemy.

EMBOLDENED by the success of this opera-
tion, the British landed in great numbers in dif-
ferent quarters. Under cover of the cannonade,
which yet continued with unabated fury, and
marching in front of the terrific fire, which the
wind blew directly in the faces of the Americans^
they hoped to attack them to advantage, A few
moments disclosed the fallacy of those expecta-
tions. Two hundred riflemen, under lieutenant
colonel Stephens, wtre immediately dispatched
to strengthen the American posts ; on a signal
the patriots rushed undismayed through the fire,
and in a moment the enemy were attacked at all
the points of deperaticn, and driven with slaugh-
ter to their bouts.

VIRGINIA. 4r

IT is a singular fact, that during the whole of CHAP*
this cannonade, the Americans had not a single v-
man killed, and only seven wounded. The towns
people were equally fortunate ; only one person, 1775.
an old woman, was killed by the fall of a cannon
ball in the back of the town. The highest praise
was bestowed on the cool and steady courage of
the young troops, in the midst of a scene which
would have shaken the resolution of veterans.

WHILST these things were passing, one of
the Borrons took two merchant ships, and carried
them safe into York harbour. The captains of
these vessels propagated a report that the fleet
was coming round from Norfolk, and it was ap-
prehended that Dunmore, foiled in his schemes
at that place, meditated an attack on the defence-
less towns of York and Williamsburg. The
measures of the committee of safety were prompt
to repel this invasion, and they were seconded
by the generous enthusiasm of the people. Co-
lonel Henry and adjutant general Bullett were at
this time in York, examining the situation of the
place, with a view to its future defence. The troops
usually stationed there consisted only of two coin-
panics of minute men. On receipt of this intel-
ligence, Henry sent express for the Prince Wil-
liam battalion, which had left York only that
morning, and to Williamstvarg for the rifle com-
pany of West Augusta. Bat the report had pre-
ceded the express, and these troops were alrea-
dy on their march with crouds of citizens, a-id
amongst the rest several .of the members of the
convention on horseback, armed for the defence
of this post. They .were overtaken on the road
by a counter express, explaining the mistake;
but a sense of the exposed state of this impor-
tant place, suggested the propriety of a force du-
rable in its nature, and adequate to the exigence,

452 HISTORY OF

And in addition to the two companies of the first
regiment stationed in Wiiliamsburg, captain
Anderson's minute men, who had just been dis-
charged, \\ere again ordered into service, and the
\\hole with an armed association of private gen-
tlemen and members ol convention, were placed
under the command of colonel Andrew Lewis.

SINCE the affair of the 25th, the situation of
aftuus continued in a state of gloomy suspence,
noliing having occurred on either side worthy of
iv tice during this interval : But the impatience
of the riflemen, notwithstanding the directions
ot thtir officers, was with difficulty restrained.
They would sometimes amuse themselves by fir-
ir.g at the ships, and notwithstanding the dis-
tance, singled out individuals on the decks, and
brought them down with their usual precision.
To punish this presumption, on the morning of
i6»bD-c ^e 16th another cannonade was opened on the
1775. town, and on the 19Ji the Americans having
taken a boat with eight seamen and a mate, be-
longing to the Liverpool, who were taking in wa-
ter, the bombardment was renewed by the whole
fleet in a more concerted and regular manner.
Under cover of this fire a party of sailors and
marines landed and het fire to the old distillery ;
but the post being reinforced, they were driven
to their boats. In this attack three of the patri-
ots were killed at the back of the town, and one
wounded. The British beside their wounded, which
were carried off, left three of their dead behind.
Sf verai smaller parties sent out for the purpose
of plunder, had no better success. In one of
these a negro was taken, armed with a musket
marked 14th regiment ; and in all cases they
were able to save themselves only by a precipi-
tate retreat.

VIRGINIA. 453

FROM a conviction that the fleet could present
their present station but a short time longer, as
well from the obvious impracticability of suc-
ceeding as from the want of water and other ne-
cessaries, it was predetermined to pay some at-
tention to the security of those places, which
would probably be the next objects of the gover-
nor's resentment. Hampton had again become
obnoxious by the recent enterprises of Birron,
and by the facility afforded to tlie American na-
val depredations, and York was a desirable ob-
ject, as well from its position as the opportunity
it would afford for the gratification, of ancient in-
juries. At the former of those places, colonel
Gray son was stationed with the Prince William
battalion of three hundred men, and captain Bar-
ren's company : While colonel Bullet, whose
genius directed him to every station of useful-
ness and danger, was preparing a battery at York,
at which place were stationed Alexander's rifle-
men, beside two companies of minute men, who
could be reinforced during any emergence, by a
respectable force from Williamsburg.

W H i L s T these things were passing, events of the Operations
highest interest had taken place in the other parts in the other
of America. After the affair of Lexington, the states-
proceedings of the provincial congress of Massa-
chusetts were marked by an energy and decision
becoming their situation, and worthy the glori-
ous cause in which they had embarked. Their
language indeed still expressed their respect and
attachment to the mother country, and they la-
mented in unaffqpted sorrow, the mehncholy ne-
cessity to which they had been reduced, of a sub-
mission that would have dishonoured their prin-
ciples, and impaired their rights and those of
posterity, or of a resistance against ths h-ibits of
their life, and those ties of filial and tender at-

54 HISTORY Gi<

CHAP, tachment by which they were bound to theii
v- founders: But superior to all other considerati-
ons, were the happiness and freedo n of the peo-
ple from whom they had received their au-
thority, and it was universally regarded as the
last evidence of baseness and degeneracy to stir-
render those invaluable blessings, which they in-
herited from God and nature, and which con-
fii mcd by repeated charters, were transmitted
unimpaired by their ancestors. Anxious, however,
to preserve in the eyes of the world the consistency
of their character, depositions were taken, with
the utmost impartiality, of the circumstances of
this encounter, and transmitted to their agents in
England, accompanied by a letter to the people
of Great Britain, with the same information in
substance, but couched in a language better cal-
culated to seize the imagination and interest the
pdssions.

t R OM these resolves they passed at once to mea»
sures of real decision. By an almost unanimous
vote, it was determined that 13,000 men should
be immediately raised in Massachusetts, and that
the remaining members of the New England
confederacy should be called on for their quotas,
which would, when complete, form an army of
thirty thousand men. The receiver general was
by the same vote empowered to borrow one hun-
dred thousand pounds, at an interest of six per
centum on the faith and security of the province.

THE neighbouring colonies, with a dispatch
that outran all forms, furnished their contingents.
But the generous enthusiasm of £he people, dis-
daining a too nice proportion at a crisis so preg-
nant with peril to all, outstripped even the speed
of the legislature. It appeared as if the people
at the call of their country, were all at once lift-
ed up like the sands of the desart for the purpose

' VIRGINIA.5 455

of overwhelming their oppressors. Nor did these
contingents wait the slow and cumbrous move-
ments of an army. The several detachments,
and single companies, and often individuals, soon
as they were armed and supplied with provisions,
began their march towards Boston, their counte-
nances strongly pourtrayed by all the generous
and sublime emotions that swell the bosom of the
soldier and the patriot. Never was sentiment
more general and consentaneous. The aged for-
got their infirmities ; the softer sex their natural
timidity. No tear, save that of rage, sullied
the cheek of an American on this occasion. No
mean fears had place ; no unworthy calculations
of consequences ; their cause was just and glori-
ous : Their injuries had been wanton and un-
provoked, and marked by a contumely and con-
tempt on the part of their enemies, that had
sunk deep into their hearts. Thus abused and
insulted, they threw their fears behind them, and
prepared to smite the oppressor in the midst of
his power.

BUT this simultaneous movement was attend-
ed with an inconvenience which should have been
foreseen, and provided for. Notwithstanding
the long duration of the present disputes, and the
determined obstinacy of the ministry, a hope
had generally prevailed, that matters would be
amicably adjusted, and in consequence of this
expectation, (certainly vain and illusory if we
accurately estimate the circumstances of the
parties) no hoards of provisions, no magazines
of arms and ammunition had been formed.
In consequence of this fatal neglect, the crouds
that flew to arms were disch irged, and only so
many were retained as were f uniibhed with arms,
and could be regularly subsisted. These, under
the command of general Ward, held the British

456 HISTORY OF

CHAP, in a state of siege in the peninsula, on which
Boston stands, and cut off all communication
between them and the country.

THE province of New York, which had hi-
therto refused her assent to the proceedings of
congress, threw off all reserve on hearing these
events, and avowed her solemn determination to
participate in the honour and peril of the com-
mon cause.

IN Mew England the generous enterprise of
individuals conceived and executed projects that
would have reflected honour on the best esta-
blished governments. Dean, Wooster and Par-
son, with whom afterwards were associated Ar-
nold of the same state, and colonel Ethan Allen
of Vermont, formed the bold project of sur-
prising the important posts of Ticonderoga and
Crown Point, and gaining the command of the
lakes George and Caam plain. On the credit of
these gentlemen a small sum was procured from
the legislature of Connecticut. By the personal
influence of Allen a body of hardy mountaineers
was raised in the neigbourhood of the la1* es9
whose knowledge of the country would facilitr.re
the operations. By well concerted plans, exe-
cuted with vigour and ability, thrse posts were
successively surprihtd. Nothing now was want-
ing to a complete command of tht hikes hut the
seizure of a sloop of w T, which lay at Sr J h 's,
and ihis too was happily effected b) Arnold, who
fitted out a schooner ioui-cl LJ S^uth Bay, and
took her without opposition.

THESE important points, for the possession
of which so much British ai d Anieri- an !>i'j-.d
had been shed, and which for foi t\ yen s h= <i 'wn
the theatre of so many brilliant atchkvejK-ents,
were gained without the loss of a m ;>,n, Tiv.y
were die keys to the British possessions in Ca-

VIRGINIA, 45

nada, and a considerable supply of arms, ammu- CHAP,
nition ai.ci of those articles in which the Ameri- ^* _
cans were deficient, were found in them; but 1775. '
superior to their intrinsic value was the lustre
tht ir acquisition shed on the American character.

It is a curious fact, that a plan precisely in all
respects the same, had been submitted to the le-
gislature of Massachusetts by Arnold, without
any previous concert or correspondence with the
Connecticut adventurers ; a strong evidence of
the bold and adventurous spirit which at this time
pervaded America.

CONGRESS, on receiving information of these
events, recommended to the committees of York
and Albany the removal of the cannon and mili-
tary stores from those posts, in order for their
preservation and security, with a view as they
pretended, that they might be safely returned,
when the restoration of the harmony between G.
Britain and her colonies, so ardently wished for
by the latter, should render it prudent and con-
sistent with the over-ruling law of self preserva-
tion. Thus anxious were they to avoid the
charge of inconsistency ? in thus over passing the
limits of self d. £ nee.

ON mature reflection, however, it was resolv-
ed that these posts should be maintained. But
still anxious of removing all uneasiness from the
minds of the Canadians, by holding thus the
keys of their country, they resolved that no expe-
dition or incursion ought to be undertaken, or
made by any colony or body of colonists', against
or into Canada.

MEANWHILE the reinforcements expected

from England having arrived, under the generals

Howe, Burgoyne and Clinton, martial law w.is

proclaimed, accompanied with an assurance of

3K

458 HISTORYOF

CHAP, pardon and indemnity to such as would return to
: their allegiance, with the exception of John Han-
ccck ard Samuel A clangs, whose generous and
animated zeal in supporting the rights of Ame-
rica had rendered them peculiarly obnoxious.

THESE wtrt but the forerunners of more im-
portal t proceedings. In obedience to the recom-
irt negation oi tlie provincial congress, measures
h: d been adopted for the deft nee of Dorchester
Keck, and Bunker Hill, a commanding emi-
rui ct which, situated within the peninsula on
which Cbi:rlcxu./\\n stands, commanded at once
that town and Boston.

^N coiformaice with these instructions, a par.
t, ; s on ty of the Americans under general Prescot, pass-
hill ed the cause way under cover of the night, and
took post on the declivity of this eminence. By
incredible exertions, carried on unremittingly
dining the rigl-i, a redoubt about forty yards
square was constructed, and a breast work stretch-
i< g from the east side of the redoubt to the hot-
torn of the hill, by extending their line, enabled
th<m to employ a larger body of troops for the
defence of this important position.

THE ensuing d wu disclosed to the astonished
Britons these wot ks, risen all at once like an ex-
halation of the morning, and it was some time
btfort full credit was given to the reality of the
object. rl he Bi-itkh general saw in a moment
ah ihe value of this position, and measures were
immediately tr.kep. lor driving the provincials.

NOTWITHSTANDING the nearness of this s emi-
r»< nee to the British pests on the other side of the
tivcr, and thr vlqibiiee that must have every
vbcrc cxisix-d in a town besieged, so profound
nee of the Americans, that not the
or evcji suspicion was excited.

VIRGINIA. 459

THE B-hish general felt in a moment all the CHAP.
importance of 'lus position, as well as the im- \ ^
p opriety of having hitherto neglectrd to oc-
cupy it, and measures were immediately taken
to dispossess the Americans. They were now
distinctly seen busy in completing the works,
when a cannonade opened from every gun t'mt
could be brought to bear upon this point : But
this fire, terrible though it was, and well calcu-
lated to strike a panic amongst raw troops,
having produced not even the effect of suspend-
ing for a moment the labours of the provincials,
Major general Howe and brigadier general Pigot
were detached with twenty companies of grena- British
diers and liarht infantry, and several field pieces, send a force

to t;ke it by storm. todiTS'

rn 11111 • sess them.

I H i s detachment debarked on the opposite

side of Charles river at Moreton's Point, and
im nediately formed in order of battle. They had
now an opportunity of viewing more distinctly
the situation and strength of this extraordinary
redoubt, and their observations suggested the
prudence of waiting for a reinforcement. 1 he
extent of the American lines supposed a garrison
of at least three thousand men, the issue of an
attack on whom, covered as they were, was con-
sidered as justly precarious. But what particu-
larly directed the judgment of the general was
the profound silence, and the order and firmness
with which the Americans waited the assauif.
They had opposed no interruption to the British
whilst passing the river, or after their deixtnci-
tion ; but appeared to reserve them vvith a

gloomy determination, until a nearer approach of
their enemies should render their iire more ef-
ficient and tremendous.

THE delay on the part of t;ie Brit' .-led

the Americans also to remiorjo tuU position with

;60 HISTORY OF

CHAP, a considerable body under the generals Wafrert
and Pomeroy. They had time also to pull up some
adjoining fences, which being disposed in two
lines parallel to each other and stuff d with hay,
afforded a toleiable secuiity against musque-
try,

THE expected reinforcement having at length
arrived, the British army in two lines moved slowly
up the hiil, under cover of a heavy fire of can-
non and howiizers, occasionally halting, to allow
time for their cannon to demolish the works.

WHILST moving towards the works, orders
were issued lor burning Charlestown, a hand-
seme village, containing about five hundred
L' I' es, which flanked their line of march. The
• ( s bt ing principally constructed of wood,
\v« ie suddenly in a blaze, a spectacle which
iiUrjed by the roar of cannon, the approach-
i' g Conflict of i he two armies, and the agonizing
solicitude and strong emotions of multitudes who
crouded the numerous hills, was well calculated
to give to the mind a character of sublimity.

THE British were permitted to approach to
within less than one hundred yards, when all at
once a flood of fire burst from every part of the
entrenchment, which but a minute before ap«
peared to be abandoned to silence and depopula-
tion, and the enemy were almost immediately
driven back in confusion. By the exertions of
their officers, they were with difficulty brought
again to the charge, but were as suddenly broken
and driven back by a renewal of the same dread-
ful volley. General do we was at one time left
almost alone, and most of the officers about him
were either killed or wounded. But notwith-
standing these severe repulses, the British had
extended their line so as to assault the works on
three sides at once ; while the breast- work was

VIRGINIA. 461

raked by some pieces of cannon : It was obser- CHAP,
vable too that the fire from the Americans had ^^ iffi.
considerably slackened, which could be ascribed ~
only to a scarcity of ammunition. At this crisis
the British were once more rallied, and with the British gain
utmost difficulty led to the redoubt, which was the *"H-
mounted with ease and carried at the point of the
bayonet. The ardour of the Americans did not,
however, yet give up the contest ; they fou^tit with
clubbed muskets until the redoubt was naif filled
by the English troops.

THE fail of the redoubt drew after it that of
the breast work, which was defended with equal
gallantry, and the provincials retreated over
Charlestown neck in the face of the victorious
enemy, exposed to the cross fire of the Glasgow
man of war and two floating batteries. In this
hazardous operation they experienced little loss,
although the supposed danger of encountering
this force had deterred the reinforcements from
coming to their assistance, and had prevented
them from receiving sufficient supplies of ammu-
nition.

IN this battle more than one third of the troops
engaged, composing the flower of the British ar-
my, were either killed or wounded : Whilst that
of the Americans was comparatively small. The
death of Dr. Warren, who had just been appointed
brigadier general, but who acted only as a vo-
lunteer on this occasion, was seriously regretted.
In other respects the Americans had every rea-
son to be satisfied, and the affair of Bunker Hill
was justly considered as an important victory.
The British, 'tis true, had gained possession of
the hill : But they might exclaim with Phyr,
" One su^h victory more, and we are undone :"
Whilst the provincials, inferior in numbers
unaccustomed to war, felt their confidence rise

462

HISTORY OF

CHAP.
V.

A congress.

Grorge
Washinjr-
tonappoir...
e.-» com-
ma T> df r in
chief.

by the issue of this encounter with vetera^ troops£
MEANWHILE congress, which hadcouvuud
at Philadelphia, on the first information of these
even s, proceeded to an organization of the nuti-
onv.l force, for a general and effective resistance.
WITH this view they recommended to the
conventions of the several stares to use their ut-
most exertions to provide the means of making
gun powder, and to obtain sufficient supplies of
ammunition ; and the non- importation agreement
was relaxed in favour of vessels bringing car-
goes of those articles. With a like earnestness
they were urged to arm and discipline their mili-
tia, one fourth of which should be classed as minute
men. The provinces were at the same time au-
thorised severally to raise a body of regulars not
exceeding one thousand men ; and a recommend-
ation was made for raising a force for the ser-
vice of the continent. Bills of credit to the amount
of thee millions of Spanish milled dollars were
emitted, for the purpose of defraying the ex-
penses of the war, and the twelve^ confederated
colonies were pledged for their redemption ; ar-
ticles of war were formed for the government of
the army, and a solemn declaration in the form of
a manifesto, was prepared to be published to the
army in orders, and to the people from the pulpit.
IN pursuance of these measures, George
vton of Virginia, so well known by his
5 the late war, was appointed coinmand-
o in chief of the forces raised, and to be raised,
»ce and preservation of Ameri-
can lib. m , and a solemn declaration was unani-
i'd into, that they would maintain,
assist anil adhere to hka wiih their lives and for-
ndcr in chief, after a short
, \rhere several important
to ue decided on, proceeded to

VIRGINIA. 463

Cambridge, and entered on the arduous duties CHAP.

of his high station with the entire confidence of v> T
the army and people. 1775^

HE found the British closely invested in Bos-
ton, and a large but disorganized and undisci-
plined army deficient in arms and ammunition,
but abounding in ardour and courage, to reduce
Which to order, and to supply whose wants, re-
quired the whole of his patience and sagacity.
For these purposes he was admirably fitted by his
temper and address. Undtr his direction, as-
sisted by the resolutions of congress, privateers
issued from the ports of New-England, and re-
turned with rich prizes, freighted often with the
articles most essential in military service. By a
variety of prudent and skilful dispositions, the
enemy's quarters were straightened, and their
regular supplies of provisions cut off. and finally
by the possession of Dorchester Heights, the British eva*
enemy were compelled to evacuate Boston.

BUT previous to this event, an important ex-
pedition had been projected by congress for the
possession of Canada, under the command of
major general Schuyler, assisted by brigadiers
Wooster and Montgomery. The indisposition
of the commander in chief devolved the arduous
duties of this important command on Richaid
Montgomery, an Irishman, who h: d acquin d
considerable reputation and experience during
the late war, and who from the very commence-
ment of the disputes between the mother COM -
try and the colonies, had taken a decided part in
favour of the rights of America. With a force
not exceeding two thousand men, he embarked
on the Sorel river, and invested fort St. John's,
defended by a garrison of six hundred regulars
and two hundred Canadians, The capture of fort
Chamble, by a detachment under majors Brown

464 HISTORY OF

CHAP, and Livingston, by affording a seasonable sup-
ply of ammunition and artillery, accelerated the
fall of this fortress ; the defeat of major Mac-
J-Vft*, lean, a veteran officer, marching to its relief, by

Cbamblcs, co[onei Warren, determined this event : The

S.. Johns, . . 7 . , . ~ , .

ana Mon- garrison, in consideration of their gallant resist-

tre«il, taken ance, being permitted to retire with the honours
by Momgo of war. Having, with uncommon address and
difficulty, induced the troops whose time of ser-
vice had expired, to remain one month longer,
and placed garrisons in forts St. John's and
Chamble, he proceeded without halting to the
reduction of Montreal; his floating batteries un-
der colonel Easton at the same time continuing
to advance up the St. Laurence. The usual
good fortune of Montgomery attended him on
this occasion. Montreal and the fket of Carle-
ton surrendered : But that experienced general
himself made his escape down the river in the
night in a boat with muftk-d oars.

To co-operate in this important expedition,
the commander in chiel had dispatched colonel Ar-
nold with about one thousand irsen, b) the Kenr,e-
beck river, through that savage wilderness 1} ir.fr
between the settled parts of >r,d the St.

Laurence. This hardy deUK.hriieiit, after en-
countering inert dibie hardships, em rgrd ac
length to the astonish mem of the C; in

the neighbourhood ofChaudiere : on tl u- 9- No-
vember the detachment readied Point Ltvi,
posite Quebec, and on the 14ih eluding- the
armed vessels, he crossed over in the mp;hi aud
formed his small army on tht Heights of Abra-
ham. Here he was joined by general Montgo-
mery with about three hundred men, all thatYe-
raained of his army after garrisoning Montreal
and granting a discharge to the troops whc^e
time gf service hud expired. The American

VIRGINIA. «

force, even after this junction, was still inferior to CHAP
the enemy's garrison, and in this inclement regi- v<
on, where the frost sets in early and with intense
severity, the troops were but badly clad and 1775.
scarcely supplied with provisions ; and the hard-
ships and consequent discontent of his raw and
inexperienced troops, would encrease rather than
diminish by time. In this emergence Montgo-
mery embraced an expedient suited alike to the
nature of the crisis, and the elevation of his geni-
us. The works of Quebec, although strong by
nature, and rendered difficult of access, at all its
weak points by numerous artificial defences, were
too extensive for its present garrison ; and suc-
cess at any of the points of attack would distract
the attention and embarrass the operations of the
enemy, who conscious of their own weakness, and
impressed with a belief of the superior numbers
of the assailants, would abandon a defence, which
might be justly regarded as desperate. The con-
dition of the garrison too, composed principally
of Canadians and sailors, and containing only a
small proportion of regular troops, promised to
oppose no adequate and effectual resistance : But
above all other motives, the circumstances of his
own army engaged his attention, and decided his
judgment. The time of service of a considera-
ble portion of his troops would almost immedi-
ately expire, and he was in possession of no in-
ducement strong enough to detain them a second
time, on a theatre, where they would have to en-
counter winter in his wildest and most terrific
form ; privations, of every description, added to war
attended with every circumstance of peril, and
with scarcely any prospect of success. Under these
circumstances it was determined to attempt an
assault, and every thing being at length prepare^

HISTORY OF

1775

between four and five o'clock in the morning.—
On a signal given, the several divisions moved to
t^ie assau^ m tne roidst of a violent storm of snow>
whilst to distract the enemy's attention, from the
side of the river St. Laurence, along the fortified
" front round the bason, every part seemed equally
threatened. The division of Arnold moved in files
along the street St. Roches, towards the St. Ma-
telots. Here was the first barrier of the enemy,
and a battery of t\vo twelve pounders, which it
was necessary to force. In approaching this bat-
tery, Arnold had his leg shattered by a musquet
ball, and was carried oft the field to the hospital : but
his place being instantly supplied by Morgan,
who commanded a company of Virginia Riflemen,
the battery was instantly mounted by the help of
ladders, having been previously abandoned by the
enemy. But the main body did not as was ex-
pected advance to his support ; in addition to his
own company, he was followed but by a few bold
individuals : It was yet dark, he had no guides,
and not the slightest knowledge of his route, and
in spite of his own impatience, and that of his
brave followers, it became necessary to halt,
whilst he repaired in person to the barrier, which
had been passed lor the purpose of bringing up
the remainder of the troops. Here he was joined
b) lieutenant colonel Green, and majors Bigelow
and Meigs, with parts of companies, composing
a total of about 200 men : and this little band of
heroes with Morgan's company in front, was led
at their own pressing solicitation, to the assault
cf the second barrier. But for this their force
was utterly incompetent : they were exposed in
a narrow street to a most destructive fire ; and
opposed in front by superior numbers, covered
and out of the reach of danger ; the day too was
every moment becoming clearer, the enemy became

VIRGINIA. 467

acquainted with their weakness, and having made CHAP,
a sortie with two hundred men, they took captain ^*
Dearborn, with the rear guard prisoners. In this
desperate situation Morgan proposed to a counc.l
of the officers present to fight their way to their
company, which was delayed only by the sug-
gestion that Montgomery might be successful,
and that their co-operation would be essential :
But the numbers of the enemy every moment en-
creasing and the prospect of relief appearing des-
perate, they were compelled to surrender at 10
o'clock prisoners of war.

THE fate of the division commanded by Mont-
gomery, was equally disastrous. That gallant
spirit advancing along the St. Laurence, by the
way of Aunce de Mere* under captain Diamond,
took possession of a block house about 200 yards
in front of the first barrier, the Canadians abandon,
ing it after an ineffectual fire at his approach. In
their flight they communicated their terrors
to the troops defending the barrier and redoubt,
and these two were abandoned with precipation.
At this interesting crisis Quebec was saved by
one of those extraordinary circumstances, which
often defeat the wisest and best . concerted mea-
sures. Whilst moving at the head of his follow-
ers in the narrow path round captain Diamond,
and assisting with his own hands to pull up the
pickets to make way for the troops ; he was ob-
liged to halt a few minutes until a sufficient force
could make their way to him. At the head of
two hundred he at length proceeded to the attack
of the barrier: but the fatal interval of delay had
given time to one or two of the enemy to return
to the battery, who having taken a slow match lay-
ing by one of the guns, discharged a single can-
non at the American van, now within forty paces
of it. This single and accidental fire decided the

68 HISTORY OF

CHAP, fate of the day. Montgomery with captain*
Cheeseman and McPherson, together with his or-
derly sergeant and a private, were killed upon the
spot ; and the detachment disheartened by the loss
GI cheir general, retreated precipitately under co-
lonel Campbell from the action.

NOTWITHSTANDING this severe repulse, Ar-
nold still kept Quebec in a state of siege, until re-
inforcements should arrive, sufficient to enable
him to resume offensive operations.

THE union was now complete, Georgia hav-
ing formally acceded to the confederacy : The
intellectual energies, which during a season of
calm, lie dormant and buried, were now drawn
out, and their effects were in the highest degree
grand and impressive. Nor was it only by the
proper genius and valor of her children, that the
cause ot America was advanced and adorned. — -
Attracted by the glory of the revolutionary morn-
ing, souls of ethereal stamp flocked from the re-
motest regions, and rallied round the first pure al-
tar, raised to the worship of liberty. Imperial
Britain reluctantly gave a Gates, ardent in courage,
of elegant manners, of incorruptible integrity, fated
to experience on one occasion, the mortification
of defeat, fated also, to atchieve the most useful
and brilliant of victories : Lee, whose eagle swoop
extended to every region of human knowledge,
and returned impressed with a lively and lasting
image of life and manners rendered more vivid by
the scintillating operation of his own genius ;
Paine, whose humble and retired labors out-
weighed the value of victories : Perhaps it is not
too much to say that the pen of this self taught
philosopher was equally efficacious as the cannon
of Saratoga and York town — France gave a La
Fayette, uniting the graceful levity of youth to the
thought and the reflection of age. Even the cold vi-

VIRGINIA/ 469

sions of the North afforded the strong scintillati. CHAP.
ens of vigorous capacity, Puiaski, De Kaib, Steu- Vt
ben. Scotland the country of Bruce, of Fletcher "
and Buchanan, gave a Sterling and a Mercer ;
and Ireland rich in every species of genius, gave
generals and governors and armies to the revo-
lution.

END OF THE THIRD VOLUME.

JOHJV DICKSOW, PRINTER,

BOLLINGBROOK STREET.

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